| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09971500B2 |
Displaying options, assigning notification, ignoring messages, and simultaneous user interface displays in a messaging application
An electronic device with a touch-sensitive surface and display can execute a messaging application. In the messaging application, swipe options can be displayed for messages and threads. Swipe options correspond to actions that can be taken on the messages or threads. Messages and threads can be associated with notification rules as well as be ignored. Composition interfaces and messages can be displayed simultaneously in the messaging application. The messaging application can display a conversation view of a message thread with a common header that can include subject information and names of participants in the threads. The messaging application allows for adding and removing participants to the conversation view. The messaging application allows for grouping search results from a search of messages using a search term. The grouping can be based on the location of the search term within the messages. |
| US09971494B2 |
Touch switch module
A touch switch module according to one embodiment comprises a panel, a touch sensor and a control unit. The panel displays a slide bar. The control unit includes a slide velocity detection unit that detects a slide velocity which is a change over time in sliding when the touch moves along the slide bar and an operation information switching unit that compares the slide velocity with a predetermined threshold, that outputs first operation information as the operation information when the slide velocity is below the threshold, and that outputs second operation information that is different from the first operation information as the operation information when the slide velocity is equal to or higher than the threshold. |
| US09971493B2 |
Information processing device and display control method
An information processing device includes: an operation unit to receive a user's operation; a first communication unit to perform communication with an external device; a first content acquisition unit to acquire first content generated in response to the user's operation; a second content acquisition unit to acquire second content received from the external device; a content storage unit to store the first and second content in association with their respective acquisition times; a display; and a display control unit. The display control unit causes the display to: display a time axis as well as first and second display regions; display the first content at a position on the time axis indicating the time associated with the first content in the first display region; and displays the second content at a position on the time axis indicating the time associated with the second content in the second display region. |
| US09971492B2 |
Dynamic environment for object and attribute display and interaction
Systems, interfaces, and methods for implementing the systems and interfaces include a dynamic environment generation subsystem that changes objects and subobjects based on locations of the motion sensors and/or the nature, time and/or location of sensed motion and include selection attractive movement as the selection protocol, where a selection object is used to discriminate between selectable objects and attract a target object toward the selection objects, where the direction and speed of the motion controls, discriminates, attracts, and activates the selected objects. |
| US09971486B2 |
Electronic apparatus and method for controlling display screen of electronic apparatus
Apparatus and method are provided that are capable of controlling a display in response to reliable detection of a sliding movement operation of a pointer (e.g., a user's finger) that passes through an end of a display region. The apparatus and method utilize a position detection sensor, which is superposed on the display and configured to detect the pointer's position discretely and successively at a predetermined time interval. Based on a first position detected by the position detection sensor and a second position detected, at the predetermined time interval since the detection of the first position, by the position detection sensor, which together indicate a moving operation of the pointer, it is determined whether the moving operation of the pointer has crossed an end of the display region. If it is so determined, a passed end position of the display region is calculated based on the first and second positions. |
| US09971485B2 |
Interactive image thumbnails
A computer-implemented method displaying, within a user interface, a view pane having a vertical direction and a horizontal direction, displaying, within the view pane, a first frame represented by a bounded region, wherein the first frame represents a container that comprises one or more objects, upon detecting a positioning of a cursor at a position in the poster frame, displaying an object of the one or more objects in the frame, the displayed object varying based on the position of the cursor, upon detecting a selection of the first frame, displaying a second frame, represented by a second bounded region, adjacent to the second frame, and displaying the displayed object in the second frame. |
| US09971481B2 |
Method for displaying an interaction interface and an electronic device for the same
The present disclosure discloses an information processing method and an electronic device, and relates to the field of electronic device application. The disclosure is made to enable a user to perform image information processing while clearly viewing image information. The method comprises analyzing image information of a to-be-displayed image and/or a captured image; determining a display position of an interaction interface based on the result of analyzing; and displaying the interaction interface on a displaying unit based on the display position. The disclosure is mainly used in the process of taking phones by a mobile phone. |
| US09971480B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing graphical view of digital content
A non-transitory processor-readable medium storing code representing instructions to be executed by a processor to define a set of indicators encoding a set of content segments from the set of content segments. The processor further defines, for each content segment, a first link between that content segment and an indicator from the set of indicators, such that the first link associates a center component of the content segment to that indicator. The processor also defines, for each content segment, a second link between that content segment and an adjacent content segment within the sequence of content segments, such that the second link associates an edge component of that content segment to an edge component of the adjacent content segment. The processor also defines a presentation of the set of content segments based on the first link and the second link, for each content segment. |
| US09971479B2 |
Graphical user interface, display control device, display method, and program
There is provided a graphical user interface that displays information on a plurality of different types of content on a single screen. The graphical user interface includes an overview display area and a detail display area. The overview display area displays an overview of the information on the content in chronological order, based on time information for the plurality of the different types of content. The detail display area displays, in greater detail, the information on the content that corresponds to the time information that is selected in the overview display area. Scrolling the information that is displayed in the overview display area causes the information on the content that is displayed in the detail display area to be scrolled. |
| US09971478B2 |
Method and apparatus for inspection and metrology
A method of displaying a plurality of graphical user interface elements, each graphical user interface element representing a step in a measurement design, setup and/or monitoring process and each graphical user interface element enabling access by the user to further steps in the measurement design, setup and/or monitoring process for the associated step of the graphical user interface element, and displaying an indicator associated with one or more of the plurality of graphical user elements, the indicator indicating that a step in the measurement design, setup and/or monitoring process is not completed and/or that a key performance indicator associated with a step in the measurement design, setup and/or monitoring process has passed a threshold. |
| US09971476B1 |
System and method for cooperative sharing of resources of an environment
A computer program product for providing a graphical user interface for displaying of and enabling cooperative use of resources on a display of a computing device includes computer readable code means, the computer readable code means when executed by a processor device, being configured to provide an environment, the environment being configured to represent the resources on the display of the computing device, provide a first viewport to at least a portion of the environment on the display of the computing device, enable a resource to be added to the environment and be viewed within the first viewport and enable the resource to be acted upon within the first viewport. |
| US09971475B2 |
Electronic apparatus
To provide an electronic apparatus capable of easily and accurately performing an operation of changing a display. A navigation system displays standard map information in small scale on a liquid crystal display device, and displays status information on movement speed of a vehicle or guidance information on distance and direction to a cross point to turn next on a head-up display device. Only while a contact of a contact body on a surface of a touchpad continues to be detected, first scaled-up map information as the scaled-up standard map information continues to be displayed on the liquid crystal display device instead of the standard map information. |
| US09971473B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device that increases both visibility and selectability of executable programs. The electronic device includes a touch panel display having an elongated shape, a memory storing programs, and a processor controlling program execution and the display. The touch panel includes a first display region and a second display region contiguous with and narrower than the first display region. The display displays an execution image of a first program in the first display region and an icon image of a second program in the second display region in a smaller display area than the execution image. When the processor detects contact at the icon image and detects that the contact moves towards the first display region, the processor causes the display to display an execution image of the second program in the first display region. |
| US09971466B2 |
Touch panel and touch electronic device
A touch panel includes multiple common electrode blocks arranged in an array and multiple touch wires. Each of the touch wires is electrically connected to corresponding one of the common electrode blocks and is insulated from other common electrode blocks that are insulated from the one of the touch wire. The other common electrode blocks are in the same layer with the touch wire. There is a gap in a common electrode block that is located at a path of the touch wire and that is insulated from the touch wire. The common electrode block that is electrically connected to the touch wire comprises a first and a second common electrode sub-blocks, both of which are adjacent to the gap. The first common electrode sub-block is connected to the second common electrode sub-block through at least one bridge electrode. |
| US09971458B2 |
Projection of interactive environment
An interactive environment image may be projected onto one or more surfaces, and interaction with the projected environment image may be detected within a three-dimensional space over the one or more surfaces. The interactive environment image may be a three dimensional image, or it may be two dimensional. An image is projected onto a surface to provide a visual representation of a virtual space including one or more of the virtual objects, which may be spatially positioned. User interaction with the projected visualized representation of the virtual space may be detected and, in response to user interaction, the projected visualized representation may be changed. |
| US09971455B2 |
Spatial coordinate identification device
A spatial coordinate identification device includes a detection light source that emits a detection light that scans a detection boundary plane defined in space, an optical sensor that detects a reflected light of the detection light reflected by an indicator when the indicator enters a detection region extending from the detection boundary plane to the detection light source, and a controller. The controller stores virtual touch surface defining information that defines a position of a virtual touch surface based on the detection boundary plane, and identifies, in response to the detection of the reflected light, a position of a boundary point that is an intersecting point of the indicator and the detection boundary plane, and an approach amount by which the indicator has entered the detection region. |
| US09971454B2 |
Temperature sensing display assemblies
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for determining the temperature of a light-generating component of a display assembly using a voltage of the light-generating component are provided. In one embodiment, a method for operating an electronic device, which may include an external surface and a light-emitting diode operative to emit light for illuminating the external surface, may include detecting the forward voltage of the light-emitting diode, calculating the temperature of the light-emitting diode using the detected forward voltage of the light-emitting diode, and altering the performance of the electronic device based on the calculated temperature of the light-emitting diode. Additional embodiments are also provided. |
| US09971449B2 |
Touch display panel having pressure detecting function, display device and driving method
A touch display panel having a pressure detecting function, a display device and a driving method are provided. The touch display panel includes: an array substrate and a counter substrate that are arranged opposite to each other; a plurality of touch electrodes disposed on the counter substrate and a touch electrode wiring electrically connected to each of the touch electrodes; a plurality of pressure detecting electrodes disposed on the counter substrate or the array substrate and a pressure detecting electrode wiring electrically connected to each of the pressure detecting electrodes, wherein any one of the pressure detecting electrodes overlaps with at least one of the touch electrodes in a direction perpendicular to the counter substrate, and with respect to the pressure detecting electrode, the touch electrode is closer to a light exit side of the touch display panel. |
| US09971448B2 |
Flexible electronic devices
Flexible electronic devices may be provided. A flexible electronic device may include a flexible display, a flexible housing and one or more flexible internal components configured to allow the flexible electronic device to be deformed. Flexible displays may include flexible display layers, flexible touch-sensitive layers, and flexible display cover layers. The flexible housing may be a multi-stable flexible housing having one or more stable positions. The flexible housing may include a configurable support structure that, when engaged, provides a rigid support structure for the flexible housing. The flexible internal components may include flexible batteries, flexible printed circuits or other flexible components. A flexible battery may include flexible and rigid portions or may include a lubricious separator layer that provides flexibility for the flexible battery. A flexible printed circuit may include flexible and rigid portions or openings that allow some rigid portions to flex with respect to other rigid portions. |
| US09971446B2 |
Touch panel with injection molded housing
Provided is a touch panel having superior impact resistance and good design on an operation face side without a decorative layer. The touch panel is manufactured by forming a cut out portion at an outer edge of a substrate on an operation face side of the substrate so as to cover a lead-out line wiring region of lead-out lines of first electrodes and second electrodes, and forming a housing portion by insert injection molding using resin material so as to sandwich the outer edge of the substrate from upper and lower sides with an operation region of a sensor unit being a front face side, and such that the cut out portion is covered and a front face of the housing portion is arranged flush with the operation face of the substrate. |
| US09971445B2 |
Image processing device, display unit, and electronic apparatus
An image processing device includes an image processor. The image processor performs an image processing on an image signal on a basis of a result of detection of a contact condition in which a user makes contact with a display section. The image processing includes an enhancement processing performed on the image signal in accordance with the contact condition. |
| US09971443B2 |
System and method for timing input sensing, rendering, and display to minimize latency
Disclosed are systems and methods for decreasing latency between an acquisition of touch data and processing of an associated rendering task in a touch sensitive device having a touch sensing system capable of producing touch data at a touch sampling rate and having a display system that displays frames at a refresh rate. In an embodiment, the system estimates at least one of (a) a period of time for sampling touch data from the touch sensing system, (b) a period of time for computing touch event data from sampled touch data, and (c) a period of time for rendering of a frame to a frame buffer. The system determines a period of time Tc for (a) sampling touch data from the touch sensing system, (b) computing touch event data from sampled touch data, and (c) rendering of a frame to a frame buffer, based at least in part on the estimate. The system determines a point in time Tr at which the display system will be refreshed from the frame buffer. A sampling start time is computed based at least in part upon Tr and Tc. Sampling of the touch sensing system is initiated to obtain sampled touch data at the sampling start time. Touch event data is computed from the sampled touch data, and a frame that reflects the touch event data is rendered to the frame buffer prior to the time Tr. The display is then refreshed from the frame buffer. |
| US09971441B2 |
Touch sensitive system with haptic feedback
A touch sensor is presented. The touch sensor comprises a first electrode (21a); a second electrode (21b); a spacing layer (22) disposed between the first and second electrodes to separate the first and second electrodes; a first sealing layer (23a) and a second sealing layer (23b), wherein the first and second electrodes and the spacing layer are disposed between the first and second sealing layers; wherein the first electrode, the second electrode, the spacing layer, the first sealing layer and the second sealing layer are bendable; a capacitive touch circuitry (24) arranged to sense a capacitive coupling between the first and second electrodes and to output a capacitive touch signal as a response to a change in the capacitive coupling; and a charge inducing circuitry (25) connected to the first and second electrodes arranged to independently induce electric charge to the first and second electrodes. A touch sensitive system comprising the touch sensor is also presented. |
| US09971434B2 |
Method and system for estimating finger movement with selection of navigation subareas
A method of estimating a finger movement comprising acquiring a navigation evaluation image from each of at least three navigation subareas of a fingerprint sensor; determining, for each of the navigation evaluation images, a navigation-related property of the navigation evaluation image; evaluating the navigation-related properties to find a combination of at least a first navigation-related property and a second navigation-related property that fulfills a navigation requirement; and selecting at least a first navigation subarea related to the first navigation-related property and a second navigation subarea related to the second navigation-related property. The finger movement is then estimated using a sequence of first navigation images acquired using the first navigation subarea, and a sequence of second navigation images acquired using the second navigation subarea. |
| US09971431B2 |
Instruction signal generation apparatus, flexible device and bend detection method
A flexible device, an instruction signal generation apparatus for the flexible device, and a bend detection method for the flexible device. The instruction signal generation apparatus comprises a sensing module (101) and a responding module (102), the sensing module (101) is configured to generate a sense signal having a magnitude associated with a bend degree of the flexible device when the flexible device is bent; and the responding module (102) is configured to receive the sense signal outputted from the sensing module (101) and generate an instruction signal according to the sense signal. A bend type user input manner for the flexible device can be achieved. |
| US09971423B2 |
Stylus with intermittent voltage driving and sensing
A stylus device for interacting with a computer is disclosed. The stylus device can comprise an operational circuit, an operational switch for activating and deactivating the operational circuit, and a driving and sensing circuit configured for driving a voltage supply to the operational circuit and sensing a state of the operational switch, wherein the driving and the sensing are executed intermittently on an electrical conductor. |
| US09971420B2 |
Interchangeable input mechanisms for control devices
Various embodiments described herein are directed toward input mechanisms, for input devices, configured to receive and removably couple to interchangeable elements. Handheld input devices applicable to some embodiments may include, without limitation, computer controllers, video game console controllers, and handheld video gaming devices. Input mechanisms applicable to various embodiments may include, for example, control sticks (e.g., joysticks or analog sticks operable by a user's finger, such as a thumbstick), buttons, switches, and directional pads. According to some embodiments, an input mechanism is provided comprising a base component. Depending on the embodiment, coupling different interchangeable elements to the base component may cause the input mechanism to vary in size, appearance, contour, material, or features provided by the input mechanism. |
| US09971416B2 |
Chinese character entry via a Pinyin input method
A Chinese character Pinyin input method and apparatus are disclosed. The method includes displaying on a human-machine interaction interface (HMI) initial keys representing all initials and simple final keys representing all simple finals. The method further includes, in response to an operation with respect to a simple final, displaying on the HMI auxiliary keys corresponding to the simple final, wherein various combinations of the simple final and symbols represented by the auxiliary keys respectively form compound finals starting with the simple final. The disclosed method and apparatus are especially applicable to inputting Chinese characters on a touchscreen of smart devices, such as mobile phones. |
| US09971412B2 |
Enabling device features according to gesture input
A method, apparatus, and program product are disclosed for determining an initial position of an electronic device using a positioning sensor located on the electronic device, detecting, based on movement away from the initial position, a gesture using a gesture detector located on the electronic device, and enabling a feature of the electronic device in response to the detected gesture being a feature-enabling gesture. |
| US09971411B2 |
Method, interactive device, and computer readable medium storing corresponding instructions for recognizing user behavior without user touching on input portion of display screen
A method used in an interactive device and for recognizing a behavior of a user operating on the interactive device includes: capturing a plurality of images; forming a plurality of polygon images corresponding to the plurality of captured images according to a skin-tone model; and performing a function by analyzing the plurality of polygon images. |
| US09971409B2 |
Passive stiffness and active deformation haptic output devices for flexible displays
A system includes a flexible display configured to display an image and a sensor connected to the flexible display. The sensor is configured to sense an amount of flexure of the flexible display. A haptic output device is connected to the flexible display and is configured to change a resistance to movement of a first portion of the flexible display relative to a second portion of the flexible display upon receipt of a haptic control signal. The system includes a processor in signal communication with the flexible display, the sensor and the haptic output device. The processor is configured to receive an output signal from the sensor based on the amount of flexure and generate the haptic control signal based on the output signal from the sensor. |
| US09971408B2 |
Simulating touch in a virtual environment
In various example embodiments, a system and method for simulating touch in a virtual environment is disclosed. In one example embodiment, a method includes receiving an indicator of a touch in a virtual environment, the indicator including a physical touch location and a texture of the touch, generating one or more commands that simulate the texture of the touch at the physical touch location by stimulating one or more micro-touch simulators in an array of micro-touch simulators according to the texture of the touch at the physical touch location, and executing the one or more commands at the physical touch interface to simulate the touch at the physical touch location for the user. |
| US09971405B2 |
Touch sensitive input
An apparatus including: a touch sensitive input responsive to manual actuation; a display output associated with the touch sensitive input; and a controller configured to provide and maintain, in response to a manual actuation at a user selected location of the touch sensitive input, an output at the user selected location to facilitate additional manual actuation via the touch sensitive input in the region of the user selected location. |
| US09971403B1 |
Intentional user experience
Methods for intentional user experience are provided herein. Exemplary methods include: getting point of interest data, including a location of a point of interest; receiving first user data, including a first location of the user and a first direction of a gaze of the user; calculating a first position of the gaze of the user using the first location of the user and the first direction of the gaze of the user; displaying a first indicator denoting the first position of the gaze of the user; receiving second user data, including a second location of the user and a second direction of a gaze of the user; calculating a second position of the gaze of the user using the second location of the user and the second direction of the gaze of the user; and displaying a second indicator denoting the second position of the gaze of the user. |
| US09971402B2 |
Information processing system, mobile terminal, server apparatus, method for processing information, and non-transitory computer readable storage medium
An information processing system includes an acquiring unit that acquires motion information indicating a current motion of a user, a determining unit that compares the motion information acquired by the acquiring unit with standard information indicating a motion of the user in a predetermined state to determine the presence or absence of a state change of the user, and a calculating unit that, when the determining unit determines that a state change is present, calculates an area that the user visually recognizes based on sight line information concerning a sight line of the user contained in the motion information. |
| US09971400B2 |
Device and method for eye tracking data trigger arrangement
A system and method tracks a user's eye for a data trigger arrangement. The method includes obtaining first image data within a first vision field of a first data capturing sensor. The method includes determining a first area viewed by a user's eye as a function of the first image data. The method includes obtaining second image data within a second vision field of a second sensor. The method includes determining a second area captured within the second field of vision as a function of the second image data. The method includes determining disposition data of the first area within the second area. When a trigger command is captured, the method includes data capturing a machine readable representation of data (MRRoD) using the second sensor as a function of the disposition data. |
| US09971399B2 |
Watch type control device
A watch type control device comprises: a band configured to surround at least a portion of a user's wrist; an IR module disposed on a side of the band facing the user's hand when the watch type control device is worn on the user's wrist, the user's hand and wrist being on the same side of the user's body; and a beam projector disposed on the band and configured to outwardly project a screen, wherein the IR module is configured to recognize a user's hand gesture and to initiate the execution of a program causing the beam projector to output on the screen a display corresponding to the program. |
| US09971393B2 |
Dynamic workload frequency optimization
The embodiments described herein relate to dynamically detecting a frequency change condition for microprocessor performance. An instruction is received, and a frequency change condition associated with the received instruction is dynamically detected. A frequency modulation is performed in response to the dynamic detection. The frequency modulation includes selecting a second frequency for optimal instruction processing different from a first frequency, the first frequency being a default operating frequency of the microprocessor. Execution of the instruction is completed at the second frequency. Accordingly, incoming execution instructions are logically analyzed, and the processor frequency is selectively modified based on associated instruction conditions. |
| US09971392B2 |
Serializer and deserializer for odd ratio parallel data bus
Serializers and deserializers for odd ratio parallel data buses are disclosed. In one embodiment, serializers and deserializers operating with an odd number of parallel data bits work with a half-rate clock to provide a serial data stream at a full clock rate. By providing a half-rate clock, power and area are conserved on the integrated circuit incorporating the serializer. Additionally, by providing a 7:1 serializer, the bus is now compatible with the MIPI C-PHY standard. |
| US09971391B2 |
Method to assess energy efficiency of HPC system operated with and without power constraints
A method of assessing energy efficiency of a High-performance computing (HPC) system, including: selecting a plurality of HPC workloads to run on a system under test (SUT) with one or more power constraints, wherein the SUT includes a plurality of HPC nodes in the HPC system, executing the plurality of HPC workloads on the SUT, and generating a benchmark metric for the SUT based on a baseline configuration for each selected HPC workload and a plurality of measured performance per power values for each executed workload at each selected power constraint is shown. |
| US09971390B1 |
Processor energy consumption rate limiting system
In some embodiments, a processor core includes an energy tracking circuit and an execution management circuit. The energy tracking circuit is configured to determine an amount of remaining allocated energy of the processor core. The execution management circuit is configured to make a determination whether to stall execution of one or more pipeline operations at the processor core based on a comparison of the amount of remaining allocated energy to a stall threshold. The determination involves applying one or more pseudo-random components to the amount of remaining allocated energy, the stall threshold, or both. The determination is made such that the smaller the amount of remaining allocated energy, the more likely the execution of one or more instructions is to be stalled. |
| US09971389B2 |
Per-phase current calibration method for a multi-phase voltage regulator
An information handling system (IHS) performs current calibration of a multi-phase VR using leakage current as a reference current. The IHS includes a multi-phase voltage regulator (VR) module coupled to an output port of a power supply unit (PSU). The VR module includes: a multi-phase VR having an integrated power stage that provides pulse width modulation (PWM) functionality for controlling operating phases of VR current in the multi-phase VR; and a digital controller coupled to the multi-phase VR. The controller: enables a known, high accuracy operating phase as loading calibrator for offset training; records a leakage current value as a reference current; enables a first unknown, low accuracy operating phase; determines, for the unknown operating phase, an offset value that provides a specified target current accuracy; updates an offset register for the unknown operating phase with the corresponding offset value; and disables the unknown operating phase. |
| US09971386B2 |
Mobile virtual desktop
A device includes a display screen a processor to render a display of a portion of a logical image on the screen. The logical image is larger than that which can be displayed on the display screen of the device. As the device is maneuvered through space, different portions of the logical image are displayed, and the user may interact with these portions as desired. |
| US09971384B2 |
Printed circuit board features of a portable computer
Tools and fixtures for assembling a printed circuit board (PCB), such as a main logic board (MLB), in a portable computer device are described. A connector assembly having an electrically conductive gasket mounted on an edge of the MLB is described. In addition, a keyboard assembly including a notched portion of the MLB for accommodating more than one type of keyboard is described. In addition, a PCB assembly having a bracket to support a weak region of the PCB during assembly is described. |
| US09971379B2 |
Attachment features for an accessory device
An accessory device for use with an electronic device is disclosed. The accessory device may include multiple layers. One layer may be formed from a plastic. Other layers may include a fabric layer and a silicone layer. The accessory device may further include a retaining feature designed to hold or carry an object, such as a stylus for use with the electronic device. The accessory device may include a recessed region suited to receive the retaining feature. This allows the retaining feature to be stored in the accessory device when the retaining feature is not in use. Further, the retaining feature may be co-planar with an interior region of the accessory device such that the electronic device is not disturbed when positioned in the accessory device. In this manner, the retaining feature may be hidden. Also, the retaining feature may be deployed from the recessed region and receive the object. |
| US09971376B2 |
Voltage reference circuits with programmable temperature slope and independent offset control
Voltage reference circuits configured to generate a voltage reference with a programmable temperature slope are disclosed. By combining and programming a PTAT (Proportional To Absolute Temperature) voltage generation circuit and a CTAT (Complementary To Absolute Temperature) voltage generation circuit, desired temperature slope for the voltage reference is obtained. To adjust both temperature slope and offset of the voltage reference, the voltage reference circuits include a bandgap reference circuit. The bandgap reference circuit is used to create a temperature independent current, which is coupled to a programmable string of resistors and programmable string of MOSFETs to produce a desired temperature slope for the voltage reference. The desired offset of the voltage reference is obtained by the temperature-independent current into another string of programmable resistors. A circuit architecture and method to control the temperature slope and offset of the voltage reference independently is disclosed. |
| US09971373B1 |
Reference voltage generator
A reference voltage generation circuit includes (a) a native MOS transistor coupled to between a power supply voltage source, and the output terminal of the reference voltage generation circuit; (b) an enhancement mode MOS transistor coupled between the output terminal and ground; and (c) a filter circuit that are coupled to the gate terminals of both the native MOS transistor, the enhancement mode transistor and the output terminal of the reference voltage generation circuit, in which the filter circuit has a transfer function including one or more zeroes at predetermined noise frequencies. |
| US09971370B2 |
Voltage regulator with regulated-biased current amplifier
A voltage regulator including a voltage amplifier, a first output-stage, an AC-pass filter, a current amplifier, a second output-stage and a gain circuit is provided. Output terminals of the first and the second output-stages jointly provide the output voltage of the voltage regulator. Two input terminals of the voltage amplifier respectively receive a reference voltage and the output voltage. An input terminal of the first output-stage is coupled to an output terminal of the voltage amplifier. Two input terminals of the current amplifier respectively receive a reference current and the AC component of the output voltage. An input terminal of the second output-stage is coupled to an output terminal of the current amplifier. An input terminal of the gain circuit is coupled to the output terminal of the voltage amplifier. An output terminal of the gain circuit is coupled to the input terminal of the second output-stage. |
| US09971365B2 |
Air conditioner management system comprising a user interface device and a central management device and method for controlling air conditioner by the air conditioner management system
An air conditioner management system and a method for controlling an air conditioner are disclosed. A user interface device provides a user interface to sense a user measure indicating a user opinion regarding operation of an air conditioner, generates feedback data associated with the sensed user measure, and transmits the generated feedback data. A central management device receives and stores the feedback data transmitted by the user interface device and calculates a set value to control the air conditioner based on the received feedback data and previously stored feedback data. |
| US09971362B2 |
Method for operating a pneumatically driven plant for handling workpieces and a system for handling workpieces
A method for operating a pneumatically driven system for handling workpieces, comprising a plurality of pneumatic units that can be pneumatically operated or are used for pneumatic control, which have connections to pressure hoses and/or which are in fluid communication with each other by the use of pressure hoses, and comprising at least one control unit for driving at least one of the pneumatic units by the use of electrical signals and/or for receiving and evaluating electrical signals from at least one of the pneumatic units. The electrical signals are here transmitted between the control unit and at least one pneumatic unit via the pressure hoses, wherein an electric voltage is applied between at least two different pressure hoses that connect the control unit and the respective pneumatic unit. |
| US09971361B2 |
Pressure regulator having single strut seat with strut coaxial to plunger
A pressure regulator including a housing including an inlet flow passage and an outlet flow passage; a plunger reciprocally mounted in the housing and including a plunger flow passage having an axis offset from an axis of the inlet flow passage, and a stationary valve seat fixed to the housing and positioned between the inlet flow passage and an inlet to the flow passage of the plunger, wherein the valve seat is configured to receive and abut the inlet to the flow passage of the plunger. |
| US09971360B2 |
Positioner
In a positioner, a driving signal IM is set to IMMIN (the minimum), a valve opening position A after the valve has then settled is stored, the driving signal IM is set to IMMAX (the maximum), a valve opening position B after the valve has then settled is stored, and the valve opening positions up until the opening of the valve arrives at the valve opening position B from the valve opening position A are stored together with the elapsed times as time series position information J1, where, based on this stored time series position information J1, the time for the opening of the valve to traverse between two prescribed valve opening positions that are established in the interval between the valve opening position A and the valve opening position B is calculated as a first response time Tup. |
| US09971355B2 |
Drone sourced content authoring using swarm attestation
Various embodiments are generally directed to providing information capture by multiple drones, which may operate in a swarm, while maintaining rights and/or value assigned to the content authored by each drone or by subsets of drones. In general, the present disclosure provides that drones participating in content acquisition may attest to their authenticity to establish trust between drones in the swarm. |
| US09971351B2 |
Orientation device for electrically operated transportation vehicles, automatically guided in factory building
The invention relates to a device and method for the orientation of electrically driven transport vehicles, especially so-called AGVs (automatic guided vehicles), automatically guided in factory buildings, the invention having the following features: a) a camera for identifying the reference points of a planned route using markers, in particular on the basis of the data matrix code, wherein a position marker is made up of an arrangement of nine data matrix codes arranged in a square, and wherein the diagonals of 3 individual codes are located on a straight line; b) a front ultrasound sensor and a rear ultrasound sensor; c) a laser scanner; and d) a light-field sensor. |
| US09971348B1 |
Passenger profiles for autonomous vehicles
Disclosed are various embodiments for implementing passenger profiles for autonomous vehicles. A passenger of the autonomous vehicle is identified. A passenger profile corresponding to the passenger and comprising a passenger preference is identified. The passenger preference is identified. A configuration setting of the autonomous vehicle corresponding to autonomous operation of the autonomous vehicle is then adjusted based at least in part on the passenger preference. |
| US09971345B2 |
Manufacturing process management support device
There is a provided manufacturing process management support device that has an input means for inputting information indicative of the fact that work related to a manufacturing process is performed, and is capable of increasing the reliability of result information. A handy terminal 10 is used to input relevant information at the start of work for adjusting a machine that processes a processing target, at the completion of such adjustment work, and at the completion of processing work. The results of these inputs are supplied to a support tool execution server 50 through a factory result collection PC 20 and a progress server 30. The support tool execution server 50 calculates the percentage of inputs actually made and causes a display 52 to display the calculated percentage, thereby making it viewable by factory workers. |
| US09971343B2 |
Portable intelligent controlling system for machines
A portable plug-and-play intelligent system for monitoring and controlling process variations of a workpiece of a machine is provided. The portable plug-and-play intelligent system includes one or more sensors, a controller, a work piece, a plug & play modular fixture with a motor, a database, a comparison unit, and a control unit. The one or more sensors collect real-time data of the workpiece from the machine. The controller processes the real-time data collected from the one or more sensors. The database stores the processed real-time data. The comparison unit compares the real-time data of the workpiece with predefined specifications of the workpiece to check whether the real-time data is accurate or not. The control unit triggers the motor to allow the plug-and-play modular fixture to adjust the parameter variables of the machine to the predefined specifications of the workpiece when the real-time data is not accurate. |
| US09971334B2 |
Inscription positioning apparatuses, systems, and methods of making and using the same
The present invention relates to apparatuses, systems, and methods for defining positions where characters such as text, numbers, symbols, or the like are to be inscribed. Specifically, the positions may correspond with geometric shapes including, without limitation, arcs, circles, angles, lines, rectangles, or the like. Even more specifically, the apparatuses, systems, and methods define the positions using a plurality of points, such that information such as coordinates, angles, radiuses, perimeters, centers, heights, lengths, circumferences, or the like are not required. Further, measuring tools, prints, or operator skill/knowledge is not required. |
| US09971333B2 |
Programming auxiliary system of programmable controller and method thereof
A PLC programming auxiliary system and a method thereof are provided. The system comprises: a web server providing a complex algorithm for programming PLC, correctness checking of the programming and user logic compilation functions; a plurality of client computers connecting with a web server and the programmed PLC devices via a network link. When a client computer is linked to the website server by a user, a web browser on the client computer requests from the web server to download client programming software for programming an appropriate PLC device, and the client programming software for programming the appropriate PLC device is executed within the web browser on the client computer, to enable the client computer to configure the PLC device and program the user logic through the client programming software for programming the appropriate PLC device, and the client computer implements an interface connection and an interaction operation of the web server with the user through the client programming software for programming the appropriate PLC device. |
| US09971331B2 |
Monitoring device for programmable controller
A monitoring device for a programmable controller can resume continuous operation from an appropriate step, when the equipment is restarted after abnormality handling process. The monitoring device includes: a read device that reads operating state information of equipment from the programmable controller during individual operation; a relationship information storage device that stores relationship information showing relationship between the first step to be executed out of the steps when the equipment is restarted after the individual operation and the operating state information; a selection device that refers to the operating state information and selects the first step to be executed when the equipment is restarted, based on the relationship information; and a command transmission device that transmits a command to change an in-execution flag of the programmable controller which shows the first step to be executed when the equipment is restarted, based on the selection result of the selection device. |
| US09971325B2 |
User travel direction based appliance control method
A method for controlling the readiness of an appliance in a system having a mobile device capable of determining its current location, storing a previous location and storing a home location for a delivery point of the appliance, and determining a location change event by comparing the current to previous location to result in a difference. If the mobile device is determined to be close to the home location and the difference magnitude is greater than a threshold, a first distance corresponding to the distance between the current and home location and a second distance corresponding to the distance between the previous and home location are computed. If the first distance is smaller than the second distance, the readiness of the appliance is enhanced. Otherwise, the readiness of the appliance is relaxed. |
| US09971324B2 |
Storage for real time process
An automated event viewing method for storing data for a process automation system. The method includes assigning a plurality of collected process data values from a physical process to a stream, and writing the stream on non-transitory machine readable storage to obtain a stored data stream having an original sampling rate. |
| US09971320B2 |
Methods and systems for adaptive triggering of data collection
A computing system may receive a map of features in an environment. The computing system may identify one or more regions of the map for data collection. The computing system may receive sensor data from a plurality of devices. The sensor data may be associated with one or more periods of time when the sensor data was collected by the plurality of devices. The computing system may determine a likelihood of one or more devices being within a portion of the environment that corresponds to the one or more regions of the map for data collection during a future period of time. The computing device may provide a request for given sensor data from the one or more devices based on the likelihood. The given sensor data may be associated with the future period of time. |
| US09971310B2 |
Movement and electronic timepiece
A timepiece movement includes a center wheel & pinion that drives a minute hand, a second wheel & pinion arranged coaxially with a center axle of the center wheel & pinion, a first light emitting element arranged on one side in an axial direction of the center axle with respect to the center wheel & pinion and the second wheel & pinion, and a first light receiving element arranged on the other side in the axial direction of the center axle across the second wheel & pinion, and that detects light emitted from the first light emitting element. The center wheel & pinion has a first center wheel transmittable portion through which the light emitted from the first light emitting element is transmittable, and a second center wheel transmittable portion which is disposed on a rotation trajectory of the first center wheel transmittable portion and through which the light emitted from the first light emitting element is transmittable. The second wheel & pinion has a first second wheel transmittable portion which is disposed on the rotation trajectory of the first center wheel transmittable portion and the second center wheel transmittable portion when viewed in the axial direction of the center axle and through which the light emitted from the first light emitting element is transmittable. |
| US09971309B2 |
Mechanical timepiece movement provided with a feedback system for the movement
The mechanical timepiece movement includes at least one barrel, a set of gear wheels driven at one end by the barrel, and an escapement mechanism of a local oscillator with a resonator in the form of a sprung balance and a feedback system for the timepiece movement. The escapement mechanism is driven at another end of the set of gear wheels. The feedback system includes at least one precise reference oscillator combined with a frequency comparator to compare the frequency of the two oscillators and a mechanism for regulating the local oscillator resonator to slow down or accelerate the resonator based on the result of a comparison in the frequency comparator. |
| US09971308B2 |
Stone mounted on a spring element
A crimping system (1) for a timepiece (6) or jewelry item comprising: a crimping support (3); a precious stone (2) mounted in or on the crimping support (3); and a flexible element (5) fastened to the crimping support (3) in such a way as to flexibly link the crimping support (3) to said item (6), such that the stone (2) can oscillate axially and radially relative to an axis of symmetry (15), following a movement of the item (6); the crimping system (1) further comprising a stop (18, 22) that is more rigid than the flexible element (5), the stop (18, 221, 241) being capable of cooperating with the crimping support (3), in such a way as to limit the range of axial and/or radial movement of the stone (2) when the latter oscillates. In particular, the crimping system (1) has the advantage, relative to the prior art, of allowing much easier and more reliable mounting of the stone (2) and of being better suited to the use of stones (2) of small dimensions. |
| US09971307B1 |
Electronic watch with function of calling for help
An electronic watch with a function of calling for help is provided. The electronic watch includes a main body, a control module, a time display module, a transparent cover, an identifying module and a positioning module. The main body includes a displaying surface. The control module is disposed within the main body. The time display module is installed on the displaying surface and electrically connected with the control module. The transparent cover is aligned with the time display module to cover the displaying surface and connected with the main body. The identifying module is connected with the displaying surface and electrically connected with the control module. The positioning module is disposed within the main body and electrically connected with the control module. Consequently, the efficacy of calling for help and accurately rescuing the user is enhanced. |
| US09971304B2 |
Movement and electronic timepiece
A timepiece movement includes a second light emitting element, a second light receiving element, and a second wheel & pinion that drives a second hand and that has a first second wheel transmittable portion and a second second wheel transmittable portion through which light is transmittable, A control unit detects a position of the second wheel & pinion by causing the second light receiving element to receive the transmitted light emitted from the second light emitting element and transmitted through the first second wheel transmittable portion or the second second wheel transmittable portion, and a second detection wheel has a second detection wheel transmittable portion through which the transmitted light is transmittable. The control unit detects a transmitting time point at which the transmitted light is transmitted through the first second wheel transmittable portion or concurrently through the second second wheel transmittable portion and the second detection wheel transmittable portion. After the transmitting time point, when the second detection wheel transmittable portion is located at other positions except for a second detection position where the second detection wheel transmittable portion is located at the transmitting time point, the control unit causes the second light emitting element to stop light emitting. |
| US09971303B2 |
Timepiece resonator mechanism
A timepiece resonator mechanism with a pivoting weight pivoting about a virtual axis, and including a flexure pivot mechanism and a first and second fixed support to which is attached, by a first resilient assembly and respectively a second resilient assembly which together define the virtual axis, a rotary support carrying the pivoting weight, this flexure pivot mechanism is planar, the first resilient assembly includes, on either side of the virtual axis, a first outer flexible strip and a first inner flexible strip, joined to each other by a first intermediate strip stiffer than each of the latter, together defining a first direction passing through the virtual pivot axis, and the second resilient assembly includes a second flexible strip defining a second direction passing through the virtual pivot axis. |
| US09971300B2 |
Cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus including the same
A cartridge detachably attachable to a main body of an image forming apparatus is provided. The cartridge includes a rotary member and a cartridge coupler. The cartridge coupler includes a transmission member coupled to a rotation axis of the rotary member, a receiving member connected to a set coupler provided in the main body for transmission of power, and a connection member connecting the transmission member and the receiving member together. The receiving member has an Oldham structure allowing movement relative to the transmission member in an axial direction. The receiving member is movable to a first position at which a rotation axis of the receiving member is misaligned with a rotation axis of the transmission member in an attachment or detachment direction, and to a second position at which the rotation axis of the receiving member is aligned with the rotation axis of the transmission member. |
| US09971292B2 |
Image forming apparatus that updates information
An image forming apparatus includes a storage and a controller. When it is determined that a temperature detected by a temperature detector is equal to or higher than a reference temperature, the controller stops a wireless communication between an RFID tag and a reader/writer. In addition, when a predetermined condition for determining that the detected temperature is lower than the reference temperature is satisfied, the controller starts the wireless communication between the RFID tag and the reader/writer, and causes the reader/writer to update information stored in the RFID tag to update information that was stored in the storage between a time point when it was determined that the temperature detected by the temperature detector is equal to or higher than the reference temperature and a time point when the predetermined condition was satisfied. |
| US09971286B2 |
Control method of image forming apparatus
A control method of an image forming apparatus including a fixing rotator includes transiting the image forming apparatus to a standby mode; detecting a temperature of the fixing rotator when the image forming apparatus is in the standby mode; determining that the fixing rotator is in a low temperature state that does not satisfy a predetermined heating condition based on the detected temperature of the fixing rotator; detecting at least one of an electric voltage, an electric current, and an electric power input to the image forming apparatus when the image forming apparatus is in the standby mode; determining that the image forming apparatus is in a low input state that does not satisfy a predetermined input condition based on the detected one of the electric voltage, the electric current, and the electric power; and issuing a notification that urges a recovery operation of the image forming apparatus. |
| US09971280B2 |
Developer case and image forming apparatus including the same
A developer case (10) according to the present invention includes a case main body (30), a conveyer (33), a first tube (34), and a second tube (35). The case main body (30) contains developer and has a discharge port (30a) to discharge the developer toward an outside of the case main body (30). The conveyer (33) conveys the developer in the case main body (30) toward the discharge port (30a). The first tube (34) is arranged in the case main body (30) so as to cover the discharge port (30a). The second tube (35) communicates with an inside of the first tube (34) at a downstream side of the discharge port (30a) in a conveying direction of the developer and extends in a direction crossing to the conveying direction. |
| US09971279B2 |
Developer cartridge and developing unit provided with the same
A developer cartridge assembled to a developing device defining therein a developing chamber. The developer cartridge includes a first accommodating portion, and a first agitator. The first accommodating portion accommodates therein a developing agent and is positioned beside the developing device. The first accommodating portion includes a first wall part neighboring the developing device. The first wall part is formed with a first through-hole and a second through-hole. The first through-hole is open diagonally downward from the first accommodating portion to the developing device. The second through-hole is open diagonally upward from the first accommodating portion to the developing device. The first through-hole and the second through-hole allow communication between an interior of the first accommodating portion and the developing chamber. The first agitator is rotatably disposed in the first accommodating portion and in sliding contact with the first wall part in a vertical direction. |
| US09971276B2 |
Developing member, method of producing developing member, process cartridge, and electrophotographic apparatus
A developing member includes a conductive substrate, a conductive elastic layer on the conductive substrate, and a plurality of insulating domains on the conductive elastic layer, wherein the surface of the developing member includes the surfaces of the insulating domains and an exposed portion of the conductive elastic layer not covered with the insulating domains. The conductive elastic layer contains a resin and an anion, wherein the resin has a specific cationic structure synthesized from an ion conductive agent composed of a cation including at least one reactive functional group and an anion and a compound that can react to the ion conductive agent. |
| US09971274B2 |
Optical scanning device provided in electrophotographic image forming apparatus, image forming apparatus, and optical scanning method
An optical scanning device includes a rotary polygon mirror, a plurality of light sources, a light detecting portion, an obtainment processing portion, an a switching processing portion. The rotary polygon mirror has a reflection surface that reflects incident light, and scans, in a scanning cycle, the light reflected on the reflection surface. The light sources emit, toward the reflection surface, a plurality of light beams. The light detecting portion detects a light amount of each light beam reflected on the reflection surface. The obtainment processing portion obtains a switching timing to switch a light emission amount of each of the light sources in the scanning cycle, based on light amounts of the light beams detected by the light detecting portion. The switching processing portion switches the light emission amount of each of the light sources based on the switching timing obtained by the obtainment processing portion. |
| US09971273B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an optical scanning unit including a rotatable polygonal mirror, a detecting portion, and a slit; and a controller. The slit includes a first portion where a slit width is a first width with respect to a main scan direction and a second portion, different in position from the first portion with respect to a sub-scan direction, where the slit width is a second width different from the first width with respect to the main scan direction. The controller identifies one of reflecting surfaces of the rotatable polygonal mirror as a reference surface on the basis of a plurality of detected signals acquired by detecting a plurality of light beams which are deflected by the respective reflecting surfaces and which pass through the slit. |
| US09971271B2 |
Charging roll for electrographic apparatus
A charging roll includes a shaft, an elastic body layer formed around the shaft, and a surface layer formed around the elastic body layer. The surface layer contains a binder and roughness formation particles, and has projecting sections that project outward in the radial direction farther in the portions in which the roughness formation particles are present than in the portions in which the roughness formation particles are not present. The roughness formation particles are composed of porous silica particles, and the porous silica particles have an average particle size of 5 to 50 μm, an oil absorbency of 200 to 500 ml/100 g, and a pore size of 5 to 20 nm. |
| US09971267B2 |
Synergistic effects on blending multiple additives in UHMWPE
Oxidation resistant crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is described, wherein at least two different additives in the manufacture synergistically increase the oxidation resistance of crosslinked UHMWPE. This allows the manufacture of oxidation resistant crosslinked UHMWPE using lower levels of additives and/or lower levels of crosslinking irradiation or chemicals. The lower levels of additives and/or crosslinking produce crosslinked UHMWPE having desired physical properties not possible without the synergistic interaction of the additives. This crosslinked UHMWPE may be used in medical prostheses such as in bearing components having desired physical properties such as wear resistance and oxidation resistance not possible without the synergistic interaction of the additives. |
| US09971264B2 |
Magnetic toner
The magnetic toner contains a magnetic toner particle having a binder resin and a magnetic body, and inorganic fine particles, wherein the average circularity of the magnetic toner is at least 0.955 and, when classifying the inorganic fine particles, in accordance with the fixing strength thereof to the magnetic toner particle and in the sequence of the weakness of the fixing strength, as first inorganic fine particles, second inorganic fine particles, and third inorganic fine particles, the content of the first inorganic fine particles, the ratio of the second inorganic fine particles to the first inorganic fine particles, and the coverage ratio X are in prescribed ranges. |
| US09971262B2 |
Magnetic toner
A magnetic toner containing a magnetic toner particle having a binder resin and a magnetic body, and inorganic fine particles, wherein when the inorganic fine particles are classified as first inorganic fine particles, second inorganic fine particles, and third inorganic fine particles in accordance with fixing strength thereof to the magnetic toner particle and in the sequence of the weakness of the fixing strength, the content of the first inorganic fine particles, the ratio of the second inorganic fine particles to the first inorganic fine particles, and the coverage ratio X of coverage of the magnetic toner surface by the third inorganic fine particles are in prescribed ranges. |
| US09971257B2 |
Electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge, and electrophotographic apparatus
An electrophotographic photosensitive member including a surface layer containing a charge generating material and a polyester resin is provided. The polyester resin contains a structure having a 12- or higher-membered cycloalkylene group. |
| US09971256B2 |
Imprint apparatus, imprint method, and method of manufacturing article
The present invention provides an imprint apparatus which transfers the pattern of the mold to a target region on the substrate, comprising a control unit configured to align the mold and the target region in a surface direction parallel to a surface of the substrate, and drive at least one of the mold and the substrate so that the mold and an imprint material on the target region are brought into contact with each other, wherein in the alignment in the surface direction before the contact, the control unit shifts a relative position between the mold and the target region based on a shift amount of the pattern of the mold from the target region in the surface direction in the driving which causes the contact, so that the relative position after the contact is set within an allowable range. |
| US09971255B2 |
Fluid handling structure, a lithographic apparatus and a device manufacturing method
A fluid handling structure for a lithographic apparatus, the fluid handling structure having, at a boundary from a space configured to contain immersion fluid to a region external to the fluid handling structure: a meniscus pinning feature to resist passage of immersion fluid in a radially outward direction from the space; and a plurality of gas supply openings in a linear array at least partly surrounding and radially outward of the one or more meniscus pinning features, wherein the plurality of gas supply openings in a linear array are of a similar or the same size. |
| US09971252B2 |
Support table for a lithographic apparatus, lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A support table for a lithographic apparatus, the support table having a support section and a conditioning system, wherein the support section, the conditioning system, or both, is configured such that heat transfer to or from a substrate supported on the support table, resulting from the operation of the conditioning system, is greater in a region of the substrate adjacent an edge of the substrate than it is in a region of the substrate that is at the center of the substrate. |
| US09971251B2 |
Lithography system and a machine learning controller for such a lithography system
A lithography system configured to apply a pattern to a substrate, the system including a lithography apparatus configured to expose a layer of the substrate according to the pattern, and a machine learning controller configured to control the lithography system to optimize a property of the pattern, the machine learning controller configured to be trained on the basis of a property measured by a metrology unit configured to measure the property of the exposed pattern in the layer and/or a property associated with exposing the pattern onto the substrate, and to correct lithography system drift by adjusting one or more selected from: the lithography apparatus, a track unit configured to apply the layer on the substrate for lithographic exposure, and/or a control unit configured to control an automatic substrate flow among the track unit, the lithography apparatus, and the metrology unit. |
| US09971248B2 |
Shutter unit, lithography apparatus, and method of manufacturing article
A shutter unit that opens and closes an optical path of light for a lithography apparatus is provided. The shutter unit includes a motor which rotatably drives a shaft extended along a rotation axis of the motor, and a plurality of shutter members attached to the shaft, each including a light shielding portion and a light transmissive portion. The shutter unit further includes a partition plate arranged at a location between the shutter members to avoid a portion through which a light beam passes and configured to shield light that has leaked from a front stage shutter member. |
| US09971246B2 |
Exposure method, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
Within area where of four heads installed on a wafer stage, heads included in the first head group and the second head group to which three heads each belong that include one head different from each other face the corresponding areas on a scale plate, the wafer stage is driven based on positional information which is obtained using the first head group, as well as obtain the displacement (displacement of position, rotation, and scaling) between the first and second reference coordinate systems corresponding to the first and second head groups using the positional information obtained using the first and second head groups. By using the results and correcting measurement results obtained using the second head group, the displacement between the first and second reference coordinate systems is calibrated, which allows the measurement errors that come with the displacement between areas on scale plates where each of the four heads face. |
| US09971244B2 |
Photosensitive element, photosensitive element roll, method for producing resist pattern, and electronic component
A photosensitive element 1 comprises a support film 10, a protective film (polypropylene film) 30, and a photosensitive layer 20 which is arranged between the support film 10 and the protective film 30, wherein the protective film 30 has a principal surface 30a at a side of the photosensitive layer 20 and a principal surface 30b at an opposite side of the principal surface 30a, and the principal surface 30a and the principal surface 30b are smooth. |
| US09971234B2 |
Cooling device and projector using the same
A cooling device for an emitting module of a projector includes a base, a guiding portion installed on the base, and a latch portion installed on the base. The guiding portion includes a positioning plate secured on one side of the base and a guiding plate secured on the other side of the base. The positioning plate and the guiding plate are foldable relative to the base to be connected with each other and so define an inlet channel. Air flow can pass through the inlet channel to cool the emitting module. The latch portion is configured to form an outlet in different directions to adjust a direction and strength of the air flow. |
| US09971232B2 |
Bracket for terminal with camera module
Provided is a bracket for a terminal with a camera module, which can photograph situations in which a user uses both hands while moving or acting. The bracket for the terminal with the camera module includes a hanger part having a bent shape so as to be hung around the neck of a user, a mounting part onto which the terminal is mounted, and a connection part connecting the hanger part and the mounting part. |
| US09971231B2 |
Diaphragm device and optical instrument
A diaphragm device of the present invention includes: a base plate having an aperture portion; a first blade being placed on a plane of the base plate and supported by the base plate to be able to open and close the aperture portion; a second blade being placed on the same plane of the base plate as the first blade, and supported by the base plate to be able to open and close the aperture portion; and a drive ring being formed so as to surround the perimeter of the aperture portion, the driving ring being configured to drive the first blade and the second blade to open and close, wherein the first blade and the second blade perform mutually different actions based on an operation of the drive ring. |
| US09971229B2 |
Supercontinuum generation apparatus and method
Apparatuses and methods for supercontinuum generation using a laser beam and a plurality of condensed state transparent plates are presented. As an example, plate material to be used for one of the plurality of plates is determined. A thickness of the one of the plurality of plates is also determined. An allowable laser intensity of the laser beam is then determined to be λ/(2n0n2L), where λ is the central incident wavelength in vacuum, n0 is the linear refractive index, n2 is the third-order nonlinear coefficient. A location of a next plate is then determined to be a distance downstream from the one of the plurality of plates where a laser intensity of the laser beam returns to a value of the determined allowable laser intensity. |
| US09971227B2 |
TM optical switch based on slab photonic crystals with high degree of polarization and large extinction ratio
The present invention discloses a TMOS based on slab PhCs with a high DOP and a large EXR, which comprises an upper slab PhC and a lower slab PhC; the upper slab PhC is called as a first square-lattice slab PhC with a TE bandgap, the unit cell of the first square-lattice slab PhC includes a high-refractive-index rotating-square pillar, a single first flat dielectric pillar and a background dielectric, the first flat dielectric pillar includes a high-refractive-index dielectric pipe and a low-refractive-index dielectric, or a high-refractive-index flat film, or a low-refractive-index dielectric; the lower slab PhC is a second square-lattice slab PhC with a complete bandgap, wherein the unit cell of the second square-lattice slab PhC includes a high-refractive-index rotating-square pillar, a single second flat dielectric pillar and a background dielectric, and a normalized operating frequency of the TMOS with high DOP and large extinction ratio is 0.252 to 0.267. |
| US09971224B2 |
Electro-optical device
To prevent damage in an electro-optical device that uses electrochromic material. The device includes electro-optical elements and a driving device that applies a driving voltage to the electro-optical elements. The driving device applies a first DC voltage of a positive polarity that cyclically repeats a first voltage and a second voltage that is lower than the first voltage, or a second DC voltage of a negative polarity that cyclically repeats a third voltage and a fourth voltage that is higher than the third voltage, to the electro-optical elements. According to the driving device, when the first DC voltage is applied to one and the second DC voltage is applied to the other electro-optical elements adjacent in the planar view, the first and the second DC voltages are supplied by time division so that the applied period of the first voltage and the third voltage do not overlap. |
| US09971218B2 |
Display device, display panel, array substrate and driving method thereof
A display device, a display panel, an array substrate and a driving method thereof are provided. The array substrate includes a plurality of pixel units arranged in an array, m number of gate electrode lines extending along a first direction, a plurality of data lines and m number of lead wires extending along a second direction. The plurality of pixel units are arranged in pixel columns along the second direction and m number of pixel rows along the first direction. Each pixel column is disposed between two adjacent data lines. Pixel units in an ith pixel row are connected to an ith gate electrode line, and the ith gate electrode line is connected to an ith lead wire, where i is a positive integer and 1≤i≤m. The pixel units in the ith pixel row are connected to different data lines far away from the ith lead wire, respectively. |
| US09971217B2 |
Array substrate and manufacturing method for the same, and display device
The present disclosure relates to an array substrate and manufacturing method for the same, and a display device. The array substrate comprises a plurality of pixel regions, a plurality of gate lines, and a plurality of data lines. The gate line and the data line are respectively connected to corresponding pixel regions. The pixel region comprises a common electrode and a pixel electrode arranged correspondingly. The array substrate also comprises a plurality of shield electrodes. The shield electrode is arranged to shield an electric field generated by a current flowing through the corresponding gate line. The shield electrode and the common electrode are arranged on the same layer and are insulated from each other. Since the shield electrode and the common electrode are insulated from each other, a change in the electrical signal in the shield electrode does not affect the common electrode. |
| US09971212B2 |
Array substrate, liquid crystal display panel, and liquid crystal display
The present disclosure proposes an array substrate, an LCD panel, and an LCD. A plurality of subpixels are arranged in the same pixel zone and share the same via hole so that a common electrode can receive scanning voltage. This structure enhances the aperture ratio of a pixel and the light transmittance of a pixel. |
| US09971211B2 |
Array substrate and display device
The embodiments of the present invention provide an array substrate and a display device, which can reduce the phenomenon of point discharge for the pixel electrode. The array substrate comprises a plurality of pixel units; a pixel electrode is provided in each pixel unit; wherein at least one corner of at least one pixel electrode is provided with a notch. |
| US09971210B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a display unit including a display substrate, an array substrate, and a liquid crystal layer. The display substrate includes a first transparent substrate, one or more light absorbing resin layers, a touch electrode layer, a transparent resin layer, and a transparent electrode layer. The light absorbing resin layer is patterned such that resin portions and an opening portion are formed. The touch electrode layer is patterned such that touch electrode portions are each extended in a first direction perpendicular to a lamination direction. The touch electrode layer and the light absorbing resin layer have a same pattern such that the touch electrode portions and the resin portions overlap with one another when viewed in the lamination direction. The transparent electrode layer is patterned such that transparent electrode portions are each extended in a second direction perpendicular to the lamination direction and the first direction. |
| US09971208B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display panel and a liquid crystal display device are disclosed. The liquid crystal display panel can decrease an overlapped area between the common electrode and the pixel electrode through partial overlapping of the pixel electrode and the common electrode, and an overlapped portion of the common electrode and the pixel electrode is a hollow structure. Therefore, the liquid crystal display panel of the present invention can decrease a storage capacitor between the pixel electrode and the common electrode, the driving voltage of the liquid crystal display panel, the pixel charging time and the power consumption of the liquid crystal display panel. |
| US09971204B2 |
Method for manufacturing liquid crystal display panel
A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel is provided. The method includes the following steps of: drop-filling liquid crystal molecules on a color film substrate having a seal frame, wherein the liquid crystal molecules are doped with thermal reactive monomers; and heat-curing a frame, and simultaneously making the thermal reactive monomers in the liquid crystal molecules into a polymer on the surface of the alignment film. The reliability of the alignment film is improved by the present invention. |
| US09971203B2 |
Display substrate and display device
A display substrate and a display device including the display substrate are provided. The display substrate includes an alignment mark in an alignment region of the display substrate; and a blocking structure in a preset region around the alignment mark, wherein the blocking structure is arranged to block residual particles carried by a rubbing roller during rubbing. |
| US09971202B2 |
Alignment layer, liquid crystal display including the same, and method of manufacturing liquid crystal display
Provided is an alignment layer including a copolymer including a first compound and a second compound. The first compound is different than the second compound. The first compound and the second compound are each independently selected from a compound represented by Formula 1: |
| US09971194B2 |
Switchable window having low emissivity (low-e) coating as conductive layer and/or method of making the same
A switchable window includes: first and second substrates (e.g., glass substrates); a liquid crystal inclusive layer (e.g., PDLC layer) disposed between at least the first and the second substrates; and a low-E coating provided between at least the liquid crystal inclusive layer and the first substrate. Voltage is applied to the liquid crystal inclusive layer via the low-E coating and a substantially transparent conductive coating which are on opposite sides of the liquid crystal inclusive layer. By adjusting voltage applied to at least part of the liquid crystal inclusive layer, the window is selectively switchable between at least first and second states with different visible light transmissions. |
| US09971193B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel
A liquid crystal display panel (100A, 100B) includes a transverse electric field mode liquid crystal cell (10), a first polarizing plate (22A, 22B) disposed on a back surface side of the liquid crystal cell (10), and a second polarizing plate (24A, 24B) disposed on a viewer's side of the liquid crystal cell (10). A liquid crystal layer (18) contains a nematic liquid crystal whose dielectric anisotropy is negative. The liquid crystal layer (18) has Δnd of less than 550 nm, where Δn is the birefringent index of the nematic liquid crystal and d is the thickness of the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer (18) is in a twist alignment state when no voltage is applied. When polarized light whose Stokes parameter S3 takes on an absolute value |S3| of 1.00 enters the liquid crystal layer (18), |S3| of polarized light having perpendicularly passed through the liquid crystal layer (18) is 0.85 or greater. The first polarizing plate (22A, 22B) and the second polarizing plate (24A, 24B) are circularly polarizing plates or elliptically polarizing plates whose ellipticity is 0.422 or greater. |
| US09971192B2 |
Display panel and display device having the same
A display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, a first transparent conductive pattern disposed on a surface of the first substrate and including a plurality of openings, and a first polarizing member combined with the first transparent conductive pattern. The display panel may reduce bending due to contraction of the first polarizing member including a drawn polarizing layer. Furthermore, static electricity generated in the second substrate may be discharged thereby improving reliability of a display device including the display panel. |
| US09971190B2 |
Display device and electronic apparatus
According to an aspect, a display device includes: a display surface on which pixels each including sub-pixels of a plurality of colors are two-dimensionally arrayed; a reflective member; a first substrate provided with the reflective member; a second substrate arranged to face the first substrate; a color filter provided with filters of at least two colors corresponding to the sub-pixels; and a scattering member provided on the second substrate. A main viewing angle direction of the display device is a direction intersecting with the display surface. The color filter is formed such that a change in transmittance of the filters per pixel in the main viewing angle direction is smaller than a change in transmittance of the filters per pixel in a direction orthogonal to the main viewing angle direction in a direction parallel to the display surface. |
| US09971183B1 |
High power adaptive optic system and components therein
An assembly having a liquid crystal molecule section, a reflector section, disposed on the liquid crystal molecule section, having a stack of dielectric layers having alternating higher and lower indices of refraction; and an array of electrode sections disposed between a pair of the dielectric layers, one of said pair of dielectric layers having a higher index than the other one of said pair of dielectric layers. The electrodes in the array are interdigitated electrode for producing electric fields parallel to the array. The reflector section is disposed between the liquid crystal molecule section and a thermally conductive substrate. |
| US09971181B2 |
In-cell touch liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing the same
An in-cell touch liquid crystal display device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed in which color mixing among pixels can be prevented. The in-cell touch liquid crystal display device includes a thin film transistor (TFT) arranged in a plurality of pixel areas; a source contact layer connected to a source electrode of the TFT and a drain contact layer connected to a drain electrode of the TFT; first and second passivation layers on the source contact layer and the drain contact layer; a common electrode on the second passivation layer; a third passivation layer on the common electrode; a conductive line to overlap the common electrode by passing through the third passivation layer; a fourth passivation layer on the third passivation layer and the conductive line; and a pixel electrode on the fourth passivation layer connected to the drain contact layer in a first contact hole. |
| US09971179B2 |
Display device with simplified appearance structure
A display apparatus can include a display panel; a cabinet covering an edge portion and including a front part, and a side part; a light source package on a rear side of the display panel; a bottom cover on a rear side of the light source package; a panel guide for guiding mounting of the display panel; a main board on a rear side of the bottom cover; and a back cover covering the main board and coupled to the bottom cover, in which at least a portion of the cabinet is exposed to an outside of the display apparatus, and at least a portion of the cabinet contacts the panel guide, and the bottom cover includes a first portion covered by the back cover and a second portion that is not covered by the back cover and exposed to an outside of the display apparatus. |
| US09971178B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a display panel and a frame that accommodates the display panel. The frame includes at least a first frame and a second frame. The first frame and the second frame are fixed to each other with a fastener. Each of the first frame and the second frame is provided with fastening holes for fixing the first frame and the second frame to each other at positions point symmetric about a center of the corresponding frame in a planar view. The first frame includes at least one first fitting portion. The second frame includes at least one second fitting portion to be fitted with the first fitting portion. The first fitting portion and the second fitting portion are provided at a position point asymmetric about the center of the first frame and the second frame in a planar view, respectively. |
| US09971173B2 |
Pinned dynamic electro-optical phase shifter
A semiconductor electro-optical phase shifter may include a substrate, an optical waveguide segment (12) formed on the substrate, and first and second zones of opposite conductivity types configured to form a first bipolar junction perpendicular to the substrate. The phase shifter may also include a dynamic control structure configured to reverse bias the first junction and a static control structure configured to direct a quiescent current in the second zone, parallel to the first junction. |
| US09971169B1 |
Eyewear with conductive temple joint
Apparatuses and systems for wearable devices such as eyewear are described. According to one embodiment, the wearable device includes a frame, a temple, onboard electronics components, and a coupling mechanism. The frame is configured to hold one or more optical elements. The temple is connected to the frame at an articulated joint such that the temple is disposable between a collapsed condition and a wearable condition in which the device is wearable by a user to hold the one or more optical elements within user view. The onboard electronics components comprise at least a pair of electronics components carried by the frame and the temple respectively. The coupling mechanism is incorporated in the articulated joint and that is configured to electrically connect the pair of electronics components across the articulated joint both when the temple is in the wearable condition and when the temple is in the collapsed condition. |
| US09971168B2 |
Optical system for imaging an object and method for the optical system
A method for adjusting a position of a first image stabilization unit and/or a second image stabilization unit of an optical system is provided. The method comprises the steps of detecting a movement of the optical system by means of an angle-of-rotation sensor and determining a bending angle of a first hinge part relative to a second hinge part of a folding bridge of the optical system. Furthermore, a correction angle is determined based on the bending angle. The first image stabilization unit is rotated about the correction angle relative to a first housing and/or the second image stabilization unit is rotated about the correction angle relative to a second housing. |
| US09971161B2 |
Device for electromagnetic wave cloaking
An electromagnetic wave cloaking device is described. The device may include a plurality of first-type dielectric units, a plurality of second-type dielectric units, and a plurality of four kinds of spacers. The dielectric units and the spacers are arranged such that an electromagnetic wave incident into the cloaking device can be refracted within the device and around a cloaking area surrounded by the device. |
| US09971160B2 |
Image sensor and method of manufacturing the same
An image sensor including a color splitter and a method of manufacturing the image sensor is provided. The image sensor includes a photoelectric conversion layer; a plurality of color filters disposed on the photoelectric conversion layer; a light transmission layer disposed on the photoelectric conversion layer and the plurality of color filters; and a color splitter that is disposed on the light transmission layer, comprises a top surface and a side surface exposed to ambient air, and is configured to transmit a portion of light incident on the color splitter toward a first pixel region and refract a remaining portion of the incident light toward second pixel regions adjacent to the first pixel region, according to a difference between a refractive index of the color splitter and a refractive index of the ambient air. |
| US09971157B2 |
Display control method and system for executing the display control method
A method includes defining a virtual space including a virtual camera, a character object, and a field in which the character object is movable, the field defining a peripheral direction and surrounding the virtual camera along the peripheral direction. The method includes defining a visual field of the virtual camera. The method includes displaying a visual-field image on a head-mounted display based on the visual field. The method includes detecting a movement input including a lateral-direction component, the lateral-direction being different from the peripheral direction. The method includes moving the character object in the field along the peripheral direction in response to the lateral-direction component of the movement input. The method includes detecting movement of the head-mounted display and changing a direction of the virtual camera based on detected movement of the head-mounted display. The method includes updating the visual-field image based on the direction of the virtual camera. |
| US09971155B2 |
Head mounted display device and control method for head mounted display device
A transmission type head mounted display device includes an image display unit including an image-light generating unit configured to generate image light on the basis of image data and emit the image light, the image display unit causing a user to visually recognize the image light as a virtual image and transmitting an outside scene in a state, a display-unit-direction specifying unit configured to specify a display unit direction, which is a direction of the image display unit, a specific-direction setting unit configured to set a specific direction on the basis of an image light generation region where the image-light generating unit generates the image light and the display unit direction, and a control unit configured to set a position of the image light generation region on the basis of the display unit direction. |
| US09971154B1 |
Pointer tracking for eye-level scanners and displays
A wearable computer device may include multiple imaging devices or other sensors working in concert to recognize conditions, objects or areas of an environment in which the wearable computer device is situated. The device may include a imaging device and a sensor, which may but need not be a imaging device, for sensing and capturing information regarding the environment. The sensor may be configured to perform one or more specific tasks, such as recognizing particular items, and the imaging device may be generally configured to perform multiple tasks. Upon the execution of a specific task by the sensor, information or instructions regarding the specific task may be provided to a wearer of the device, or may cause the imaging device to automatically operate to gather further information. Such information gathered from the imaging device or the sensor may be provided to the user, such as on a computer display mounted to the device. |
| US09971151B1 |
Mountable clear displays and projection systems
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for mountable clear displays and projection systems. In one embodiment, a system may include a mirror surface and a transparent display sheet adhered to the mirror surface. The transparent display sheet may include a blue phosphor layer that absorbs light having the first wavelength and emits light having a fourth wavelength of about 460 nm, a green phosphor layer that absorbs light having the second wavelength and emits light having a fifth wavelength of about 530 nm, a red phosphor layer that absorbs light having the third wavelength and emits light having a sixth wavelength of about 625 nm, and a blue light blocking layer attached to the red phosphor layer of the transparent display sheet, the blue light blocking layer configured to absorb blue light passing through the transparent display sheet. |
| US09971142B2 |
Optical lens assembly adapted for a solar telescope and associated method of manufacturing
An optical lens assembly adapted for a solar telescope including a diverging lens, a converging lens, an etalon filter, and a housing. The diverging lens, the converging lens, and the etalon filter being positioned within the housing. The diverging lens being located between the first opening and the converging lens, and the etalon filter being located between the converging lens and the second opening. The housing including at least one baffle located between the diverging lens and the converging lens. |
| US09971139B2 |
Microscope observation container and observation device
In the microscope observation container according to the present invention, an observed sample is accommodated by an objective lens barrel provided with a housing extending along the radiation direction of excitation light and an objective lens fixed to an inside surface of the housing. The microscope observation container is provided with a structure for collecting a liquid immersion medium added by dispensation, the structure having a portion contacted by the objective lens barrel during observation. During observation the aforementioned portion is contacted by the objective lens barrel, and the liquid immersion medium is thereby sealed by the objective lens barrel and the structure. The aforementioned portion also has an elastic force, and is deformed so as to conform to the housing of the objective lens by the contact. |
| US09971131B2 |
Zoom lens and imaging apparatus having the same
A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having positive refractive power, a second lens unit having negative refractive power, a third lens unit having positive refractive power, a fourth lens unit having negative refractive power, and a rear group that includes one or more lenses and has positive refractive power. In the zoom lens, a distance between lens units arranged next to each other changes during zooming. At least one of the lens units provided on the image side of the third lens unit includes a resin lens having positive refractive power and a resin lens having negative refractive power. A material of the resin lens having positive refractive power and a material of the resin lens having negative refractive power are set appropriately. |
| US09971129B2 |
Optical lens assembly and electronic device
An optical lens assembly, which has an optical axis, includes, at least one dual molded lens element having two plastic parts with different colors. The dual molded lens element includes a transparent portion and a light absorbing portion, wherein the transparent portion has an optical effective region. The dual molded lens element has an outer diameter surface connecting a first side surface and a second side surface of the dual molded lens element, the transparent portion is arranged from an optical effective region of the dual molded lens element to the outer diameter surface and surrounds the dual molded lens element, thus the transparent portion is a part of the outer diameter surface, and the light absorbing portion is located on one of the first side surface and the second side surface of the dual molded lens element. |
| US09971123B2 |
Top-contacted reflective sheet device
The present invention relates to a top-contacted reflective sheet device, which is consisted of a base, a reflective sheet and a shaft group, and an angle adjustment module is further included. By the composition of above elements, a level and a flip angle of the reflective sheet is provided to be adjusted easily, and a top end of the reflective sheet could be fixed on a windshield of a vehicle to thereby remove shakes, so that a user may easily adjust the direction of the reflective sheet to obtain an optimal viewing angle, to thereby improve driving safety. |
| US09971119B2 |
Modular fiber optic cable splitter
An optical interface includes a rack mountable enclosure that includes multiple slots for retaining multiple insertable fiber optic (FO) modules. The FO modules include a first set of interconnection ports that connect to remote radio units (RRUs), a second set of interconnection ports that connect to a baseband unit (BBU), and a third set of monitoring ports that connect to monitoring/text equipment. The FO modules contain fiber splitters that split off uplink/receive and downlink/transmit signals carried on optical fibers to the third set of monitoring ports. The FO modules may insert in different orientations and directions into different rack mountable enclosure configurations for higher density and more configurable connectivity. A splitter holder is located within the FO module and provides improved optical fiber routing for more integrated module port interconnectivity. |
| US09971118B1 |
Launch cable assembly
A housing for a launch cable assembly with a cylindrical exterior comprising first and second flat round sides; a height between the first and second sides; a division along a perimeter; a first part comprising the first side and a portion of the height left of the division; and a second part comprising the second side and a portion of the height right of the division, wherein the first and second parts are removably affixable to one another; an interior space; at least two round mandrels within the interior space; and at least two cord exits. |
| US09971117B2 |
Rack cabling system
A rack cabling system including a rack having mounted thereon a first hardware component and a patch panel housing mounted on the rack adjacent the first hardware component. The patch panel housing populates no more than a three rack unit (RU space), the patch panel housing including a first end having cable pathway openings and a second end having connector elements mounted therein. The patch panel may have a first cable pathway opening located adjacent the first side of the housing and defining a primary position and a first connector element mounted on the second end and the first connector element having a first position corresponding to the primary position of the first cable pathway opening. Cable harnesses axe routed with less than three bends of the cables between the first hardware component and the patch panel housing, so the first cable harness is terminated at the first connector element in the first position. |
| US09971114B2 |
Optical cable containing fiber bundles and thread for tying the bundles
A thread for tying a group of fibers in a fiber optic cable having an outer jacket to one another to form a fiber bundle. The thread includes a length of a binder thread, and an adhesion material coated on the binder thread so that (a) the binder thread adheres to the group of optical fibers about which the thread is tied to form the fiber bundle, and the binder thread remains adhered to the bundled fibers to restrain movement of the fibers when the outer jacket and cable elements other than the bundled fibers are removed. After the binder thread is tied about a fiber bundle, exposed surfaces of the adhesion material coated on the binder thread are treated so that the thread does not adhere to any cable elements in proximity to the thread, other than the fibers of the bundle about which the thread is tied. |
| US09971112B2 |
Optoelectrical connector system
An optoelectrical connector system can include an optical coupler that is configured to be positioned over a photonic device on the PCB. The optoelectrical connector system can further include a connector housing that is configured to be attached to the optical coupler after the optical coupler is positioned over the photonic device, so that the coupler can be aligned and fixed without the housing attached thereto. |
| US09971111B1 |
Alignment mechanism of optical interconnect structure
An optical interconnect structure includes a lens array and a waveguide substrate. The lens array has a dummy lens. The waveguide substrate has a dummy core, a dummy mirror corresponding to the dummy core, and an inspection opening for injecting inspection light into the dummy core to reach the dummy mirror. In the optical interconnect structure, the lens array is mounted on the waveguide substrate such that the dummy lens of the lens array is positioned on the dummy mirror by monitoring inspection light from the inspection opening. |
| US09971110B1 |
Alignment mechanism of optical interconnect structure
An optical interconnect structure includes a lens array and a waveguide substrate. The lens array has a dummy lens. The waveguide substrate has a dummy core, a dummy mirror corresponding to the dummy core, and an inspection opening for injecting inspection light into the dummy core to reach the dummy mirror. In the optical interconnect structure, the lens array is mounted on the waveguide substrate such that the dummy lens of the lens array is positioned on the dummy mirror by monitoring inspection light from the inspection opening. |
| US09971105B2 |
Flexible printed circuit board and optical network allocation device comprising same
A flexible printed circuit board and optical network allocation device comprising same. The flexible printed circuit board comprises a circuit board body (1), a plurality of protruding interfaces (101) on the circuit board body, an adhesive layer (2) covering the upper surface of the circuit board body (1), components (102), and an uplink interface (103) used for information interaction with the components (102) on the circuit board body (1). Each protruding interface (101) is provided with an electronic label read/write interface (1011) used for reading electronic label information on an optical fiber head and an indicator (1012). The adhesive layer (2) is provided with an open window region (201) in the middle. The components (102) are immobilized on the upper surface of the circuit board body (1) and located in the open window region (201) of the adhesive layer, and are connected to the electronic label read/write interface (1011), the indicator (1012), and the uplink interface (103) respectively, used for controlling and monitoring the read/write information of the electronic label read/write interface (1011) and controlling on/off of the indicator (1012). |
| US09971102B2 |
Fibre optic cable assembly
A fiber optic cable assembly (1), including: at least one fiber optic connector (45a,45b) arranged for insertion into a receiving socket, said connector (45a,45b) including a leading end and a trailing end; at least one latch (55a,55b) for releasably locking the fiber optic connector (45a,45b) to the receiving socket, said latch (55a,55b) including a leading end (63a,63b) and a trailing end (65a,65b), wherein the latch (55a,55b) is cantilevered towards its trailing end (65a,65b); and a manually operable control (69) arranged for sliding movement, said control (69) being arranged to actuate the latch (55a,55b) in response to a user actuating the control (69). |
| US09971098B2 |
Coupler and optical waveguide chip applying the coupler
A coupler and a waveguide chip including the coupler are provided. The coupler connects a first optical waveguide to a second optical waveguide and includes an entity region and a first waveguide grating. A first end of the entity region is coupled to the first optical waveguide. A second end of the entity region is coupled to a second end of the first waveguide grating. A first end of the first waveguide grating is coupled to the second optical waveguide. Size of the first end of the entity region matches size of an end plane of the first optical waveguide, size of an end plane of the second end of the entity region matches size of an end plane of the second end of the first waveguide grating, and size of the first end of the first waveguide grating matches size of an end plane of the second waveguide. |
| US09971097B2 |
Optical connector, cable, and optical communication device
A lens of a plug converts a light signal from an optical fiber cable to light of a predetermined divergence angle in order to emit the light. A plug housing fixes the optical fiber cable and the lens. The lens is positioned such that the light signal from the optical fiber cable becomes the light of the predetermined divergence angle at an emission surface side of the optical fiber cable. The light signal emitted from the plug becomes dispersed when entering into the eyeball of a nearby person, and therefore can be prevented from exerting adverse effect on visual function and the like. |
| US09971087B2 |
High-birefringence hollow-core fibers and techniques for making same
A hollow core fiber has a cladding comprising a matrix of cells, wherein each cell comprises a hole and a wall surrounding the hole. The fiber further has a hollow core region comprising a core gap in the matrix of cells, wherein the core gap spans a plurality of cells and has a boundary defined by the interface of the core gap. The matrix of cells comprises a plurality of lattice cells, and a plurality of defect cells characterised by at least one difference in at least one property from that of the lattice cells. The cells at the core region boundary include lattice cells and defect cells that are arranged in a pattern so as to produce birefringence in a light propagating through the hollow core fiber. Further described is a technique for making the fiber. |
| US09971086B2 |
Backlight module and liquid crystal display
A backlight module and a liquid crystal display are provided. In the backlight module, a reflection sheet and a first optical film set are designed as an up-down engaged box structure, wherein the other elements of the backlight module are fixed inside the box, so as to form the whole of the backlight module. The backlight module has advantages: narrow frame, simple structure, low cost, high light utilization efficiency. The liquid crystal display has advantages such as a narrow frame. |
| US09971084B2 |
Illumination structure for uniform illumination of keys
Described is an illumination structure for a key of a keyboard. The illumination structure is used to uniformly illuminate the key and any glyphs that are present on the key. The illumination structure includes a light guide having various features that increase total internal reflection and also illuminate the glyphs of the key. |
| US09971083B2 |
Directional backlight unit
Provided is a directional backlight unit. The directional backlight unit includes a source light unit configured to generate dot source light, a linear source light generator configured to separate a plurality of source lights, which are output in a direction vertical to a line type output surface, from the dot source light according to different grating periods and generate the separated plurality of source lights as linear source lights, and a light guide panel configured to output backlight, which has a form of flat source lights and includes the plurality of source lights, in a direction vertical to a plate type output surface according to the different grating periods. The linear source light generator includes an incident surface on which the dot source light is incident and the line type output surface on which a plurality of grating patterns having the different grating periods are provided. |
| US09971079B2 |
Backlight module and display device
A backlight module and a display device are provided. The backlight module includes a light conversion unit and a light source, wherein the light conversion unit and the light source are provided in a same layer, and the light conversion unit is configured to convert infrared light generated due to reflection of light from the light source into visible light. The backlight module of the present invention has an improved lighting effect. |
| US09971078B2 |
Phase gratings with odd symmetry for high-resolution lensless optical sensing
Image-sensing devices include odd-symmetry gratings that cast interference patterns over a photodetector array. Grating features offer considerable insensitivity to the wavelength of incident light, and also to the manufactured distance between the grating and the photodetector array. Photographs and other image information can be extracted from interference patterns captured by the photodetector array. Images can be captured without a lens, and cameras can be made smaller than those that are reliant on lenses and ray-optical focusing. |
| US09971070B2 |
Article having a plurality of optical structures
An article has optical structures disposed on a base material element. The optical structures include lenticular lens structures and discrete coloring elements having distinct color regions. The lenticular lens structure has several lens layers. The lenticular lens structure may have any of a variety of cross-sectional shapes. The article has a different appearance when an observer views the article at various angles. The appearance may differ in terms of coloring scheme. |
| US09971062B2 |
System and method for high-resolution radio occultation measurement through the atmosphere
A constellation of individual satellites are employed to concurrently collect occultation data from multiple GPSS originating signals that pass through atmospheric sections of interest. By coordinating the collection and processing of the data using state of the art receivers on a constellation of low earth orbit satellites and networked processing, highly accurate calculation of atmospheric conditions and related future weather events are possible. |
| US09971056B2 |
Proximity sensor
A first oscillation circuit in which a helical antenna is used as a part of an element for a resonance circuit and a second oscillation circuit in which a loop antenna is used as a part of an element for a resonance circuit are caused to oscillate at substantially the same frequency. When a human body approaches the helical antenna and the loop antenna, the frequency difference between the first oscillation circuit and the second oscillation circuit increases. This frequency difference is extracted using a BPF. |
| US09971054B2 |
System and method to determine communication line propagation delay
An apparatus for measuring resistivity in a borehole includes first and second modules configured to be conveyed through the borehole and a transmitter connected to the first module, the transmitter transmitting a transmitter signal that causes a field signal to be created in a formation surrounding the borehole. The apparatus also includes a receiver connected to the second module configured to sense the field signal, a reflection generator and a delay determination circuit that includes a pulse generator and a timer. The apparatus also includes a communication link coupling the delay determination circuit and the reflection generator. The delay determination circuit causes a first pulse to be transmitted to the reflection generator and determines an indication that is related to the time until a reflection is received back from the reflection generator. |
| US09971049B2 |
Low-frequency Lorentz marine seismic source
This disclosure is related to marine seismic sources, for example marine seismic sources known in the art as benders. Some embodiments of this disclosure use Lorentz forces to produce seismic energy. For example, magnets and wire coils may be attached to one or more plates of a marine seismic source, and the Lorentz interaction between them may cause deformation of the plates to produce seismic energy. Such marine seismic sources may be components of a marine seismic survey system, and may be used in a method of marine seismic surveying. Methods of making marine seismic sources are also disclosed. |
| US09971047B2 |
Photon-counting type X-ray CT apparatus
Provided is a photon-counting type X-ray CT apparatus according to embodiments including a detector, a first collecting unit, a second collecting unit, and an image reconstruction unit. The detector detects an X-ray and outputs a signal. The first collecting unit collects count data of photons of the X-ray for every energy band with a predetermined time width by using the signal output from the detector. The second collecting unit corrects integration data obtained by integrating the signal with the predetermined time width by using the signal output from the detector. The image reconstruction unit corrects the count data by using the integration data. The image reconstruction unit generates a reconstructed image by performing a reconstructing process on the corrected count data. |
| US09971046B2 |
Radiation imaging apparatus and radiation imaging system
A radiation imaging system for performing a plurality of times of radiation imaging is provided. A readout circuit generates a value corresponding to a signal read out from each pixel. A control unit causes the readout circuit to generate a first pixel value corresponding to a signal read out from each pixel, and a first offset value of the readout circuit before starting the plurality of times of radiation imaging. The control unit causes the readout circuit to generate a second pixel value corresponding to a signal read out from each pixel, and a second offset value of the readout circuit during a plurality of times of radiation imaging. A correction unit corrects the second pixel value by using the first pixel value, the first offset value, and the second offset value. |
| US09971042B2 |
Scintillator panel
[Problem] Provided is a scintillator panel which is capable of imaging at a low dose while suppressing the contrast deterioration caused by scattered radiation, and further has improved luminance and MTF.[Solving Means] A scintillator panel having a scintillator layer for converting radiation into light, characterized in that the scintillator layer is in direct contact on a photoelectric conversion element and includes a reflecting layer and a scattered radiation diffusing layer on a radiation incident side of the scintillator layer, the scattered radiation diffusing layer is present closer to the radiation incident side than the reflecting layer, and the scattered radiation diffusing layer has an X-ray transmittance of 99.5% or more. |
| US09971041B1 |
Radiation sensor
A radiation sensor includes a radiation source, at least two scintillators having distinguishable scintillation-light-emission-decay characteristics, and shielding configured to provide radiation-paths of different shielding between the source and the at least two scintillators. The shielding is configured such that the scintillators are primarily sensitive to radiation passing through different paths. The signals produced from scintillation events can be sorted by the scintillator that is the source of the event. A source-scintillator-based comparison of the signals may be used to provide information about the material in one or more of the radiation paths. The sensor may be disposed within a borehole to measure the density of the fluid in the borehole. |
| US09971040B2 |
Portable detection apparatus and method
A portable detection apparatus can include a housing, a first detector for detecting ionizing radiation from a first subject and a second detector within the housing for the detecting the background radiation. A shield within the housing can surround the first and second detectors and define a shield aperture around the first and second detectors for radiation from the subject to enter the housing. A radiation blocking member can substantially block at least a portion of the ionizing radiation from reaching the second detector, whereby radiation detected by the second detector comprises substantially only the background radiation. A processor module can be connected to the first and second detectors for determining the amount of ionizing radiation detected by the first detector attributable to secondary radiation. |
| US09971039B2 |
Apparatus and method of DRD panel operation using oxide TFTS
A method of operating a digital radiographic detector having an array of imaging pixels, wherein a predetermined gate voltage is applied to the transistor gates in the array in a dark environment. The preselected gate voltage is maintained for a predetermined duration to increase a threshold voltage of the transistor. |
| US09971038B2 |
Chromotropic detection of ionizing radiation
A high contrast dosimeter is constructed where a plastic support is at least partially coated with a layer having a colored radical trapping compound. The plastic is a polymer that can contain a radiation sensitive plasticizer. The plastic forms radicals upon irradiation with high-energy (low wavelength) radiation. Upon diffusion of the radicals to the layer of radical trapping compound, reaction forms a compound with a different color than the radical trapping compound. In an embodiment of the invention, the plastic support is celluloid and the radical trapping compound is an azulenyl nitrone (AZN). |
| US09971035B2 |
Wind measurement lidar
A wind measurement lidar includes: an output unit to output a laser beam; a transmitter-receiver to emit the laser beam produced by the output unit into the air, and to receive a scattered beam of the laser beam; a received signal acquiring unit to obtain a received signal through heterodyne detection of the laser beam and the beam acquired via the transmitter-receiver; a controller to control the transmitter-receiver; a storage to store as a noise signal the received signal obtained when the laser beam is controlled so as to be produced, but not to be emitted into the air; a frequency difference unit to subtract the noise signal from the received signal obtained when the laser beam is controlled so as to be emitted into the air; and a wind speed measurer to measure a wind speed from the subtraction result. |
| US09971031B2 |
System and method for 3D imaging using compressive sensing with hyperplane multi-baseline data
A method and system generates a three-dimensional (3D) image by first acquiring data from a scene using multiple parallel baselines and multiple different pulse repetition frequencies (PRF), wherein the multiple baselines are arranged in a hyperplane. Then, a 3D compressive sensing reconstruction procedure is applied to the data to generate the 3D image corresponding to the scene. |
| US09971030B2 |
Method and apparatus for correcting ionic distortion of satellite radar interferogram
An apparatus and method for correcting the ionospheric distortion of an SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) interferogram are disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a multiple aperture SAR interferometry (MAI) interferogram generation unit, a transformed MAI interferogram generation unit, an ionospheric distortion interferogram generation unit, and a corrected SAR interferogram acquisition unit. The multiple aperture SAR interferometry (MAI) interferogram generation unit generates a multiple aperture SAR interferometry (MAI) interferogram using an SAR interferogram. The transformed MAI interferogram generation unit generates a transformed MAI interferogram representative of the azimuth direction derivatives of ionospheric distortion phases using the phases of the MAI interferogram. The ionospheric distortion interferogram generation unit generates an ionospheric distortion interferogram using the transformed MAI interferogram. The corrected SAR interferogram acquisition unit acquires a corrected SAR interferogram by eliminating the generated ionospheric distortion interferogram from the SAR interferogram. |
| US09971029B2 |
Radar apparatus
A radar apparatus is provided, which can enhance resolution by data processing. The radar apparatus includes a radar wave transmitter, a radar wave receiver, and an analyzing module. The analyzing module analyzes data received by the radar wave receiver, stores amplitude data and speed data of a target object for every cell in a predetermined coordinate system, and processes, based on the data, the amplitude data of an observing cell in the predetermined coordinate system associated with speed. The analyzing module determines whether an absolute value of a speed difference between adjacent cells and adjacent to the observing cell while the observing cell is located therebetween, is a threshold or higher, and the analyzing module performs processing of reducing the amplitude of the observing cell if the absolute value is the threshold or higher. |
| US09971027B1 |
Methods and systems for suppressing clutter in radar systems
Methods and systems for suppressing clutter, for example, ground clutter, in radar systems are provided. The methods and systems can be employed in radar systems having an antenna system and at least two receive beams, for example, a main beam and an auxiliary beam. The methods include receiving data streams from each of the at least two receive beams, where each data stream is associated with range bins and include data representing clutter, and, before or after Doppler filtering, generating an adaptive weight from summations of the data streams for each of the range bins, and applying the generated weight to at least one of the data streams to provide Doppler filtered and spatially nulled data streams that can be used to more accurately identify targets, such as, aircraft. |
| US09971023B2 |
Systems and methods for time of flight measurement using a single exposure
A sensor array arrangement for a time of flight measurement system is disclosed. The arrangement includes a plurality of pixels and circuitry. The plurality of pixels are configured such that a first plurality of pixels receive a first reference signal and a second plurality of pixels receive a second reference signal. The first and second reference signals are phase shifted with respect to each other. The circuitry calculates depth information by combining information from first and second pixel sensor signals. The first pixel sensor signal is based on the first reference signal. The second pixel sensor signal is based on the second reference signal. |
| US09971022B2 |
Radar apparatus
A radar apparatus is installed in a vehicle and receives a reflection wave from a target to derive information about the target. The radar apparatus includes a signal processor to extract a peak signal that is obtained from a difference frequency between a transmission signal whose frequency changes in a prescribed cycle and a reception signal representing reception of a reflection wave that is generated from a transmission wave of the transmission signal reflected by the target, in each of an up period in which the frequency of the transmission signal increases and a down period in which the frequency decreases; and to determine whether a target information derivation environment is good or bad based on a number of the peak signals each of which corresponds to a static object having a plurality of angle information. |
| US09971018B2 |
Interference mitigation for positioning systems
An interference removal filter that includes a combination of a first filter and a second filter, where the first filter passes signals over a frequency range of size B with a variation of less than +/−3 dB, where the peak value of the impulse response of the second filter is displaced in time from the peak value of the impulse response of the first filter by at least 2/B time units, and where the combination of the first filter and the second filter produces a notch in frequency at a frequency location within the frequency range. |
| US09971014B2 |
Access point-assisted positioning framework
Methods, systems, and devices are described for a wireless positioning framework in which an access point (AP) broadcasts a message within a beacon interval that identifies a transmission schedule for a set of stations. The message may include an information element identifying the stations in the set. The set may be determined based on station clock drifts and/or a ranging accuracy sought by the AP. The AP may also provide a station identifier, and frame spacing and delay parameters, which may be used to determine a distinct backoff for each station. Using distinct backoffs allow the stations to avoid collisions when sending the transmissions. The AP may receive the transmissions according to the identified schedule and may determine a range (e.g., round-trip time) for each station in the set based at least on a time at which the respective transmission is received. |
| US09971013B2 |
Borepath analyzer
A tracker used to analyze a desired borepath prior to horizontal directional drilling operations. The tracker analyzes an amount of interference present at a plurality of different frequencies at multiple locations along the borepath and maps a plot of the interference at the different frequencies. The lower the point on the plot, the less interference present at that frequency at the location analyzed. The tracker summarizes the overall interference along the desired borepath for the different frequencies analyzed and will recommend a preferred frequency. An operator may program the beacon prior to boring operations to emit a beacon signal at the preferred frequency. The operator may also tune the tracker to receive the preferred frequency. The tracker and beacon may then communicate during boring operations at the preferred frequency in order to detect the position of the beacon underground relative to the tracker. |
| US09971011B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing electronic intelligence (ELINT) and radar tracking data
A system and method for tracking an object receive electronic intelligence (ELINT) track information related to the object and radar track information. A first likelihood that the radar track information is also related to the object is determined at a first time of the ELINT track information and a first time of the radar track information. A second likelihood that the radar track information is also related to the object is determined at a second time of the ELINT track information and a second time of the radar track information. The first likelihood and the second likelihood are processed to determine whether the ELINT track information and the radar track information should be associated as both being related to the object. |
| US09971007B2 |
Method and apparatus for accelerated magnetic resonance imaging
In a method and apparatus for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, a result image is provided based on multiple MR contrasts. The result image is indicative of a value of a magnetic parameter. MR data are acquired for the multiple contrasts at different time points, in each case following preparation of a magnetization. During the acquisition of the MR data, k-space is undersampled according to a respective undersampling scheme. The undersampling schemes of the different MR contrasts are different from one another. |
| US09971004B2 |
Treatment planning and delivery using temperature uncertainty maps
A method and programmable computer system calculates and displays the regions where the temperature can be reliably measured in a thermal therapy procedure. The clinician or automated control system then can make an informed decision to treat these regions or plan a treatment to avoid them based on the sensitivity of surrounding structures to unintended heating. |
| US09971003B2 |
Accelerated magnetic resonance thermometry
A medical apparatus (300, 400, 500, 600) comprising a magnetic resonance imaging system (302). The medical apparatus further comprises a memory (332) storing machine readable instructions (352, 354, 356, 358, 470, 472, 474) for execution by a processor (326). Execution of the instructions causes the processor to acquire (100, 202) spectroscopic magnetic resonance data (334). Execution of the instructions further cause the processor to calculate (102, 204) a calibration thermal map (336) using the spectroscopic magnetic resonance data. Execution of the instructions further causes the processor to acquire (104, 206) baseline magnetic resonance thermometry data (338). Execution of the instructions further causes the processor to repeatedly acquire (106, 212) magnetic resonance thermometry data (340). Execution of the instructions further cause the processor to calculate (108, 214) a temperature map (351) using the magnetic resonance thermometry data, the calibration thermal map, and the baseline magnetic resonance thermometry data. |
| US09970998B2 |
Method and magnetic resonance apparatus to determine a B1 phase map
In a method to determine a B1 phase map for at least two excitation modes of a radio-frequency coil arrangement of a magnetic resonance apparatus, the radio-frequency coil arrangement having multiple independently controllable transmission channels, and the B1 phase map describing, with spatial resolution, the phase of radio-frequency field this is generated in a respective excitation mode relative to a common reference phase map, first magnetic resonance data describing the phase change of a basic magnetic field of the magnetic resonance apparatus between a first echo time and a second echo time are acquired, and are evaluated to determine a spatially resolved Larmor frequency value that describes the deviation from a nominal Larmor frequency of the magnetic resonance apparatus. To correct raw phase maps derived from second magnetic resonance data acquired using a respective one of the excitation modes, a correction map, determined relative to the reference phase map, is calculated and subtracted from the raw phase map under consideration of the Larmor frequency value and the echo times in the acquisition of the second magnetic resonance data. |
| US09970996B2 |
Methods and apparatus for generating a threshold signal in a magnetic field sensor
A magnetic field sensor for detecting motion of an object includes threshold generation circuitry and processing. Magnetic field sensing elements are configured to generate a magnetic field signal in response to a magnetic field associated with the object. A motion detector responsive to the magnetic field signal and to a threshold signal is configured to generate a detector output signal having edges occurring in response to a comparison of the magnetic field signal and the threshold signal. A speed detector responsive to the detector output signal generates a speed signal indicative of a speed of motion of the object. A threshold generator responsive to the speed signal generates the threshold signal having a level that varies in response to the speed signal. |
| US09970995B2 |
Apparatus having a fixing device
An apparatus includes at least one first component, at least one second component and a fixing device that, in order to secure the at least one second component to the at least one first component, is arranged between the at least one first component and the at least one second component. The fixing device includes an adjusting unit. The adjusting unit includes at least one adjusting element for setting a fixing force. |
| US09970991B2 |
Diagnostic system for a battery system
A diagnostic system for a battery system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is provided. The battery system includes a battery module electrically coupled to a contactor. The diagnostic system includes a first microcontroller and a second microcontroller operably communicating with the first microcontroller. The second microcontroller is programmed to open the contactor electrically coupled to the battery module if either a first diagnostic indicator flag is equal to a first fault value or a second diagnostic indicator flag is equal to a second fault value. The second microcontroller is further programmed to open the contactor if either a third diagnostic indicator flag is equal to a third fault value or a fourth diagnostic indicator flag is equal to a fourth fault value. |
| US09970987B2 |
Method and apparatus for test time reduction using fractional data packing
An embodiment provides a circuit for testing an integrated circuit. The circuit includes an input converter that receives N scan inputs and generates M pseudo scan inputs, where M and N are integers. A scan compression architecture is coupled to the input converter and generates P pseudo scan outputs in response to the M pseudo scan inputs. An output converter is coupled to the scan compression architecture and generates Q scan outputs in response to the P pseudo scan outputs, wherein P and Q are integers. The input converter receives the N scan inputs at a first frequency and generates the M pseudo scan inputs at a second frequency and the output converter receives the P pseudo scan outputs at the second frequency and generates the Q scan outputs at the first frequency. |
| US09970985B2 |
Reconfiguring debug circuitry
A method of reconfiguring a current debug configuration of a debug unit connected to a peripheral circuit on an integrated circuit chip. The method comprises the debug unit collecting debug data of the peripheral circuit and outputting the debug data in a message stream. The debug unit receives a debug reconfiguration command. The debug unit transmits an indication of the current debug configuration, then reconfigures the current debug configuration to a new debug configuration in accordance with the debug reconfiguration command, then transmits an indication of the new debug configuration. The indication of the current debug configuration and the indication of the new debug configuration are transmitted adjacent to the debug data in the message stream. |
| US09970982B2 |
Apparatus and a method for providing an output parameter and a sensor device
An apparatus for providing an output parameter includes an output parameter generator circuit configured to determine a value of an output parameter repeatedly. The output parameter generator circuit includes at least one circuit block mandatory for the determination of a value of the output parameter. Further, the apparatus includes an output interface circuit configured to transmit the output parameter repeatedly to a receiver and a test circuit configured to test a basic functionality of the at least one mandatory circuit block of the output parameter generator circuit repeatedly. The at least one mandatory circuit block of the output parameter generator circuit is unavailable for the determination of a value of the output parameter during the basic functionality test. |
| US09970981B2 |
Method and device for temperature measurement of FinFET devices
A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor device that includes an active region having a semiconductor fin and a gate structure across the semiconductor fin. The gate structure includes a gate electrode. The semiconductor structure also includes a gate line extending from the gate electrode and a metal wiring that is positioned above the gate line and is electrically connected to the gate line through two or more nodes. The semiconductor structure also includes a first measuring electrode and a second measuring electrode coupled respectively to two ends of the metal wiring, the first measuring electrode disposed closer to the gate electrode than the second measuring electrode. The semiconductor structure is configured to measure the temperature of the semiconductor device. During temperature measurement, the first measurement electrode is coupled to a first potential and the second measurement electrode is coupled to a second potential that is lower than the first potential. |
| US09970976B2 |
Composite insulator for an overhead power line with a protected leakage current detector
A composite insulator (1) for overhead power lines comprises a rigid core extending axially between two attachment fittings (6) and having placed thereon a shell having sheds (5, 5′) made of electrically insulating synthetic material. It includes a detector device for detecting surface leakage currents, which device includes an electrically conductive metal annular ring (7) surrounding the shell between an end shed (5′) adjacent to one of the two fittings (6) and another shed (5) adjacent to the end shed (5′) that extends radially over the ring (7). The ring (7) is connected by a conductive wire (8) passing through the end shed (5′) to be connected to an electronic unit (9) of the detector device. |
| US09970975B2 |
System for the standoff detection of power line hazards
The disclosed invention mitigates unnecessary electric utility and first responder intervention in the event of a downed electrical cable that may not present a voltage hazard. The disclosed downed power line status indicator invention serves to protect the public while increasing the ability to repair lines damaged due to an unplanned natural calamity or other incident. In the preferred embodiment, the invention can capture the status of a downed line and if it is energized, provide a local visual arid audible alarm of hazardous conditions to anyone in the vicinity of the downed line. In addition, the invention can generate a message or notification sent to the utility's operations center. |
| US09970973B2 |
Atom-based electromagnetic radiation electric-field and power sensor
A method is presented for measuring the electric field of electromagnetic radiation using the spectroscopic responses of Rydberg atoms to the electromagnetic radiation field. The method entails implementing quantitative models of the Rydberg atom response to the electromagnetic radiation field to provide predetermined atomic properties or spectra for field amplitudes and or frequencies of interest, spectroscopically measuring the response (spectrum) of Rydberg atoms exposed to an unknown electromagnetic radiation field, and obtaining the electric field amplitude and/or frequency of the unknown electromagnetic radiation by using features extracted from the measured spectrum and comparing them to features in a predetermined spectrum among the set of predetermined spectra. |
| US09970971B2 |
Flashlamp degradation monitoring system and method
A method for monitoring degradation of a flashlamp including triggering the flashlamp to produce a light pulse, monitoring at least one parameter as a function of time to obtain a pulse waveform of the light pulse, comparing the pulse waveform to at least one reference pulse waveform to determine a difference therebetween, and flagging an end-of-lamp-life condition when the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold. |
| US09970964B2 |
Method and system for programming, calibrating and driving a light emitting device display
A method and system for programming, calibrating and driving a light emitting device display is provided. The system may include extracting a time dependent parameter of a pixel for calibration. |
| US09970963B2 |
Temperature compensated current measurement
A temperature compensated current measurement device comprises a Rogowski coil having a terminating impedance arranged to adjust the attenuation of the coil to balance changes in coil sensitivity so that the output voltage indicative of measured current remains substantially unchanged, the terminating impedance having different values above and below a threshold frequency. |
| US09970962B2 |
Non-contact type voltage sensor for dual-wire power cable and method for compensating installation position variation thereof
A voltage sensor and the method for compensating installation position variation thereof are disclosed. The voltage sensor may comprise a casing, two substrates, a plurality of voltage sensing units and an iterative operation unit. One side of the casing may include two grooves. The substrates may be respectively disposed in the grooves, and an accommodating space is formed between the substrates. The voltage sensing units may be disposed on the substrates to measure a plurality voltage parameters of a dual-wire power cable disposed in the accommodating space. The iterative operation unit can be disposed in the casing and connected to the voltage sensing units, wherein the iterative operation unit can perform an iterative operation process according to a compensation database and the voltage parameters for compensating the horizontal and vertical displacements occurring when installing the voltage sensor on the cable, and calculate the estimated input voltage of the cable. |
| US09970958B2 |
Method and system for compensating systematic non-linearities of a signal provided by a capacitive inertial sensor
A method for compensating non-linearities of a read signal generated by a variable-capacitance inertial sensor including a first fixed electrode and a second fixed electrode and a mobile electrode, which is spatially arranged between the first and second fixed electrodes and is capacitively coupled to the first and second fixed electrodes, said method comprising the steps of: acquiring the read signal; identifying a first linear component and at least one first nonlinear component of the read signal; a generating a compensated output signal by subtracting the first nonlinear component from the read signal. |
| US09970954B2 |
Integer ratiometric analysis of rotating assets
A computer-executable ratiometric analysis method determines integer components of a rational number ratio or a close approximation of an irrational number ratio. In one embodiment the method uses a ratio of rotational speeds of two rotating assets in a machine or process, generates a new rational number based on the ratio of speeds, and calculates the integer components of the new rational number. The result is the integer ratio relationship between the initial two rational numbers. The method may be used in machinery analysis applications to determine whether a low-order integer ratio relationship exists between two machinery rotating components. Low-order integer ratio relationships in machinery are generally harmful in related machinery rotating components, and detection of such relationships is an important tool in preventing damage to machinery components. In a more general embodiment the algorithm can be used to determine the closest integer roots of any fractional number where this information would be of interest to an analyst in understanding the fractional number. |
| US09970953B2 |
Machine for automated extraction of nucleic acid
The present invention provides a machine for automated extraction of nucleic acid, which includes: a machine bottom plate, a support frame, and a vertical movement unit. The machine of the present invention can extract large-volume samples for automated extraction of nucleic acid, and if so desired, the extracted nucleic acid can be concentrated to produce high-quality nucleic acid samples. |
| US09970951B2 |
Genetic testing device, genetic testing method and program
In the past, genetic testing systems for exclusive use were needed due to the difference in type or property of specimens. Therefore, a genetic testing system includes: an extraction unit; an assay preparation unit; a reading unit; a first conveying mechanism for conveying a sample among the extraction unit, the assay preparation unit, and the reading unit; multiple sample loading units which are provided corresponding to at least two units of the extraction unit, the assay preparation unit, and the reading unit; and multiple second conveying mechanisms which are provided corresponding to the multiple sample loading units and convey test samples to the inside of the system from the sample loading units. |
| US09970943B2 |
Mass spectrometric assays for peptides
Methods for interpretation of mass spectrometric tests for clinical biomarkers in which the amounts of internal standards are set to equal clinical evaluation thresholds, and preparations for adding stable isotope labeled peptide species to sample digests while minimizing losses and alterations in peptide stoichiometry. |
| US09970937B2 |
Composition and method for diagnosis and immunotherapy of prostate cancer
A method and composition for the diagnosis of and treatment of prostate cancer including a recombinant AKAP-4 tumor-associated antigen loaded antigen presenting cell that generates an AKAP-4 specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte specific for one or more prostate cancer cells. |
| US09970934B2 |
Detection of oral microbial virulence factors
Methods for detecting and quantifying toxins present in the oral cavity. The methods may include providing a biological sample, providing reporter cells expressing one or more Toll like receptors, exposing the cells to the biological sample, measuring the EC50 value of the lipopolysaccharide on activation of a Toll like receptor, quantification of the lipopolysaccharide in the biological sample. |
| US09970932B2 |
Non-covalent patterned chemical features and use thereof in MALDI-based quality control
The present application provides arrays for use in immunosignaturing and quality control of such arrays. Also disclosed are peptide arrays and uses thereof for diagnostics, therapeutics and research. |
| US09970931B2 |
Methods for isolating a target analyte from a heterogenous sample
The invention generally relates to methods of using compositions that include sets of magnetic particles, members of each set being conjugated to an antibody specific for a pathogen, and magnets to isolate a pathogen from a body fluid sample. |
| US09970930B2 |
Drug discovery and protein-protein interaction assay using fluorescent protein exchange
A novel assay for determining a molecular process using a fluorescent protein exchange assay, and a composition for use thereof, are provided. The assay provides first and second signalling proteins and an exchange protein, wherein the exchange protein interacts with the first signalling protein to form a complex, then introducing the second signalling protein, wherein in response to the molecular process, the exchange protein dissociates from the first protein and associates with the second protein. The change in signal in response to the exchange of the proteins is measured to indicate a molecular process. |
| US09970929B2 |
Voriconazole immunoassays
Methods, compositions and kits are disclosed directed at voriconazole derivatives, immunogens, signal generating moieties, antibodies that bind voriconazole and immunoassays for detection of voriconazole. |
| US09970928B2 |
Printing of FSL constructs
Method of localizing a functional moiety (F) to at least one discrete area on a surface of a substrate, by propelling droplets of an aqueous dispersion of a synthetic construct of the structure F-S-L from a plurality of orifices located in a print head of an inkjet printer onto the surface. In the structure F-S-L, S is a spacer selected to provide a construct that is dispersible in water at a temperature of 25° C. in the absence of organic solvents or detergents, L is a diacyl- or dialkyl lipid and the at least one discrete area is in the shape of a symbol readable by optical character recognition (OCR) apparatus or a pattern having a combination of indicia in which the synthetic construct is present at different densities. |
| US09970925B2 |
In vivo reporter system
A construct system for expressing a reporter protein, as well as a transgenic animal and a screening method employing the same, are provided. In certain embodiments, the construct system is a three component system in which expression of a reporter protein from a reporter construct is induced by a transcription factor that is produced using two other constructs, each producing a different part of the transcription factor. The parts of the transcription factor are ligated together. Expression of the reporter only occurs in tissues in which both of the parts of the transcription factor are produced. |
| US09970919B2 |
Method and device for monitoring and controlling the state of a process stream
The present invention concerns a method of estimating and optionally controlling the microbiological state in a process stream of an industrial process by measuring the concentration of dissolved oxygen or the rH value, or both, in said stream, the method including continuous or periodic sampling and online measurement. The invention also concerns a device suitable for use in implementing said method. |
| US09970915B2 |
Systems and methods for rapid measurement of carbon dioxide in water
Systems and methods are provided for rapidly determining the partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) in a body of water. The systems and methods are particularly useful for measuring p CO2 in coastal waters and other bodies of water where pCO2 can change rapidly and vary widely at sites that are in close proximity to each other. Additionally, pCO2 measurements can be important for industrial CO2 sequestration monitoring, monitoring pCO2 in wastewater and drinking water treatment plants, as well as monitoring and controlling pH in municipal and private swimming pools. |
| US09970914B1 |
Gas sensors with contact pads
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with gas detecting sensors. According to one embodiment, a gas sensor includes a metal layer, a barrier interlayer, a substrate layer, a first insulating layer, a conduction path, a contact pad, and a second insulating layer. The conduction path connects the metal layer to the contact pad. The second insulating layer prevents diffusion through the contact pad, the conduction path, or the metal layer. The sensor includes a wire bonded electrical connection to the contact pad such that voltage can be determined and/or applied. |
| US09970913B2 |
Multi-component sensing coating for pressure and temperature measurements
An environment sensitive coating system is disclosed that includes a pressure sensitive component comprising a first portion of an oxygen sensitive light emitting material dispersed in an oxygen permeable binder; and a pressure reference component comprising a second portion of the oxygen sensitive light emitting material dispersed in an oxygen impermeable binder. |
| US09970910B2 |
Gas sensor and method of manufacturing gas sensor
A gas sensor includes a gas sensor element that extends in an axial direction and that includes a detector, which detects a specific gas in a mixed gas; a metal shell that surrounds a periphery of the gas sensor element to hold the gas sensor element; a base that is disposed on a rear side of the metal shell and that covers a rear end portion of the gas sensor element, the base being made of a polymer material; and a metal tube that connects the metal shell and the base to each other and that includes a rear portion and a front portion, the rear portion being integrated with the base, the front portion forming an exposed portion that is exposed from the base. A part of the exposed portion of the tube is connected to the metal shell, and the base is disposed apart from the metal shell. |
| US09970905B2 |
System and method for defect monitoring
A defect monitoring system has ultrasound transmitters and receivers on a wall of a structure under test such as a pipeline. The receivers are arranged in an array of locations that substantially encloses an area under test on a wall of a structure under test. The array may comprise two circumferential rings along a pipeline at different axial positions. The array of ultrasound receivers is used to measure signals that result ultrasound that leave the area through the wall for other parts of the wall. From the measured signals backward propagated signals are computed for a location within the enclosed area, compensated for a modelled effect of propagation from the location within the area to the locations of the receivers at the perimeter. The backward propagated signals for the location in the enclosed area are summed over the locations of the receivers to obtain an approximate integral over the perimeter of the area. The integral is used as a normalization factor for the backward propagated signals for the location within the area. In this way reflection and/or transmission coefficients are obtained that are indicative of the size of defects in the wall, independent of calibration of ultrasound coupling coefficients. |
| US09970900B2 |
Methods for distinguishing dioleinates of aged and non-aged olive oil
Systems and methods are provided for selectively filtering 1,2-diolein and 1,3-dioleine ions from an olive oil sample. An ion source is instructed to ionize a mixture of an olive oil sample and a pre-ionization modifier. The pre-ionization modifier includes silver (Ag). A differential mobility spectrometry (DMS) device is instructed to separate ions received from the ion source and affected by a post-ionization modifier based on ion mobility. The second post-ionization modifier is butanol, for example. The DMS device is instructed to selectively filter separated 1,2-diolein precursor ions by selecting a first compensation voltage (CoV) for the DMS device. The first CoV is specific to separate 1,2-diolein precursor ions from 1,3-diolein precursor ions. The DMS device is instructed to selectively filter separated 1,3-diolein precursor ions by selecting a second CoV for the DMS device. The second CoV is specific to separate 1,3-diolein precursor ions from 1,2-diolein precursor ions. |
| US09970899B2 |
Automated smart water quality monitor and analyzer and associated methods
A fluid testing system can be used to measure the levels of contaminants in a fluid system. The system can utilize anodic stripping voltammetry or some other chemical, electrical, or electrochemical process to measure the contaminant levels. Wire electrodes may be used to facilitate the tests. Unused portions of the electrode wires can be fed into the test chambers between tests to ensure clean and reliable electrodes for subsequent testing. |
| US09970897B2 |
Chemical sensors and methods for making and using the same
A van der Pauw (VDP) sensor comprising an electronic circuit electrically coupled to a surface, the surface comprising a type III-V material, and the electronic circuit measuring a sheet resistivity of the surface using a VDP technique. The VDP sensor may further comprise a macromolecule, such as a porphyrin, an oligonucleotide, a protein, a polymer or a combination thereof in contact with the surface. The VDP sensors may be arranged in an array of similar or different sensors. An electronic circuit electrically coupled to a type III-V material having a two-dimensional electron gas, such as InAs or InN, the electronic circuit measuring an electrical property of the type III-V material having a two-dimensional electron gas. |
| US09970894B2 |
Method and device for measuring concentration of substance in fluid
A method and device for measuring a substance's concentration in a fluid. The method includes first passing a sample to be measured through a chemical sensor at least twice and recording the response value each time; forming a simultaneous equation set using the equation relation between the response value obtained during each measurement and the concentration of the substance, and the mass equation relation satisfied by the concentration change caused by a physical, chemical reaction during each measurement and by the change of the mass, electric quantity, and heat; solving for the concentration of the substance measured and the sensor calibration parameter. The method, used as an absolute measurement method, can be applied to calibrate the sample concentration of a fluid, overcomes the effects on the measurements caused by temperature, humidity, pressure, and some interfering gas, requires no sensor calibration, and substantially enhances the measurements' stability and reliability. |
| US09970890B2 |
Method and apparatus pertaining to non-invasive identification of materials
A control circuit having access to information regarding a plurality of models for different materials along with feasibility criteria processes imaging information for an object (as provided, for example, by a non-invasive imaging apparatus) to facilitate identifying the materials as comprise that object by using the plurality of models to identify candidate materials for portions of the imaging information and then using the feasibility criteria to reduce the candidate materials by avoiding at least one of unlikely materials and combinations of materials to thereby yield useful material-identification information. |
| US09970879B2 |
Aparatus and method of determining a reaction sensitivity threshold of materials to elecrostatic discharge
A method and apparatus for determining the sensitivity to electrostatic discharge (ESD) of energetic and volatile samples. The method and apparatus include an optical detector configured to detect the optical light intensity from an ESD event with time resolution less than 15 microseconds. The optical light intensity is integrated to obtain an integrated light intensity. The method and apparatus further include processing circuitry configured to determine whether the ESD event is a “Go” event, wherein the energetic material undergoes decomposition generating additional light in addition to light generated by the ESD event itself, or the ESD event is a “No-Go” event without decomposition of the energetic/volatile material. The integrated light intensity threshold between “Go” and “No-Go” events is determined using a statistical distribution of inert sample measurements. |
| US09970878B2 |
Higher order structured dyes with enhanced optical features
Organic dyes that are covalently bonded multimers or higher order symmetrical structures where one or more dye units may optionally contain deuterium substitutions are disclosed. The disclosed dyes are particularly useful for optical coatings, new optical nanomaterials, high density storage devices. The structural and optical characteristics of the disclosed dyes provide avenues for increased information-content through surface-enhanced Raman resonance spectroscopy. |
| US09970877B2 |
SERS detection system for chemical particulates and low vapor pressure chemicals
A method for detecting chemical aerosols and particulates on a surface by contacting a sample with a Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) substrate where the sample is an aerosol or a particulate on a surface, encapsulating the SERS substrate with the sample, heating the encapsulated sample so it vaporizes inside the encapsulation, cooling the vaporized sample so it deposits onto the SERS substrate, and irradiating the SERS substrate to collect a SERS spectrum of the sample. Also disclosed is the related system for detecting chemical aerosols and particulates on a surface. |
| US09970876B2 |
Dual source analyzer with single detector
A dual source system and method includes a high power laser used to determine elements in a sample and a lower power device used to determine compounds present in the sample. An optical subsystem directs photons from a sample to a detector subsystem after laser energy from the laser strikes the sample along an optical path. After energy from the device strikes the sample protons are directed to the detector subsystem along the same optical path. The detector subsystem receives photons after laser energy from the laser strikes the sample and provides a first signal, and receives photons after energy from the device strikes the sample and provides a second signal. A controller subsystem pulses the high power laser and processes the first signal to determine elements present in the sample, energizes the lower power device and processes the second signal to determine compounds present in the sample. |
| US09970875B2 |
Sensor chip for SPFS measurement, SPFS measurement method using sensor chip for SPFS measurement, and SPFS measurement device equipped with sensor chip for SPFS measurement
[Problem] To provide a sensor chip for SPFS measurement, by which, irrespective of environmental conditions, fluctuations are low in characteristics such as signal, noise, or detection sensitivity, quantitative property can be ensured, and a highly precise and accurate SPFS measurement can be carried out. [Solution] A sensor chip for SPFS measurement which has a dielectric member having been produced by carrying out injection molding of a resin, when viewing from the metal thin film-formed surface side of the dielectric member and taking as b the distance of the side end surface position of the resin inlet to the position on the metal thin film-formed surface that is farthest from the side end surface position of the resin inlet, the center of a ligand immobilization part is located in the area between the 3b/8 position and the 6b/8 position from the side end surface position of the resin inlet. |
| US09970870B2 |
Reconfigurable reflect-array to realize task-specific compressive sensing in screening applications
A threat detection system having a reconfigurable reflect-array and compressive sensing unit to effectively detect objects that are a threat is presented. A statistical library, having a wide range of threat and non-threat examples and capable of incorporating new examples while being used, is utilized by several optimization algorithms to calculate an optimal illumination pattern for compressive sensing detection. The reflect-array is configured to produce the optimal illumination pattern via a plurality of reflect-array elements. In this way, a plurality of data may be parallel processed, thereby increasing the detection speed and reducing cost. |
| US09970867B2 |
Method of determining the concentration of a gas component and spectrometer therefor
The invention relates to a method and to a spectrometer for determining the concentration of a gas component, wherein a light source of the spectrometer is operated as in wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS). Thus a determination of the concentration can also take place in accordance with WMS and the measured data can, however, additionally be processed, namely a sorting takes place on the time axis, such that the concentration can be determined using the methods of direct absorption spectroscopy (DAS). |
| US09970866B1 |
Laser detector for weapons
A Terahertz laser system for remote weapon detection is disclosed. The human target potentially having a weapon is swept with multiple wavelengths of Terahertz laser beams and the reflected return radiation is detected and transformed into a composite image gradated by brightness or color to represent gradations in intensity of the returned radiation indicative of possible weapon(s) or the absence thereof. |
| US09970865B2 |
Decomposition detecting unit, concentration measuring unit, and concentration control apparatus
Provided is a decomposition detecting unit that despite a simple configuration, can detect whether or not decomposition occurs in material gas resulting from the vaporization of a semiconductor material. The decomposition detecting unit includes: an NDIR type or laser absorption spectroscopy type absorbance measuring mechanism that measures first absorbance, which is absorbance at a wavelength at which a semiconductor material absorbs light, and second absorbance, which is absorbance at a wavelength at which a material produced when the semiconductor material decomposes absorbs light, of mixed gas containing material gas resulting from the vaporization of the semiconductor material; and a decomposition detection part that detects the decomposition in the material gas on the basis of the ratio between first concentration calculated on the basis of the first absorbance and the second absorbance and second concentration calculated on the basis of the second absorbance. |
| US09970864B2 |
Method of detecting a propellant gas
A method and a system for detecting the presence of propellant gas in a gaseous sample exploit laser light especially in the 3.30-3.5 μm range. The propellant can be propane, n-butane, i-butane, dimethyl ether, methyl ethyl ether, HFA 134a, HFA 227, or any other propellant exhibiting absorption in the requisite wavelength range. The presence of the application of this method in leak testing of propellant-containing containers such as aerosols or fuel canisters, permits high-speed, high accuracy leak detection capable of replacing existing testing methods. |
| US09970863B2 |
Optical metrology with reduced focus error sensitivity
Methods and systems for performing broadband spectroscopic metrology with reduced sensitivity to focus errors are presented herein. Significant reductions in sensitivity to focus position error are achieved by imaging the measurement spot onto the detector such that the direction aligned with the plane of incidence on the wafer surface is oriented perpendicular to the direction of wavelength dispersion on the detector surface. This reduction in focus error sensitivity enables reduced focus accuracy and repeatability requirements, faster focus times, and reduced sensitivity to wavelength errors without compromising measurement accuracy. In a further aspect, the dimension of illumination field projected on the wafer plane in the direction perpendicular to the plane of incidence is adjusted to optimize the resulting measurement accuracy and speed based on the nature of target under measurement. |
| US09970862B2 |
Reflective tag and polarized light sensor for transmitting information
Polarized light characteristics are detected and mapped to an application, such as product identification. A process of reflecting a directed light emission through a polarizing filter, and sensing the processed light emission having particular characteristics is provided. The characteristics of the sensed light emission is associated with a “color code” that is cross-referenced within a database of color codes. |
| US09970860B2 |
Polarization inspection device
A polarization inspector for inspecting an inspection target, the polarization inspector having a polarization divider for spatially dividing at least a reflected beam of light from the inspection target by irradiating an illumination beam into divided beams of lights mutually different in polarization direction; one or more optical receivers for receiving the divided beams of lights and generating an image signal based on the divided beams of lights; and a processor for calculating at least one of an elliptical azimuth angle, a polarization degree and a polarization component intensity from the image signal. |
| US09970859B2 |
Sample holder, detector mask, and scope system
A detector mask transmits selectively a plurality of probe particles to a particle detector, the detector mask includes: a plate including a plate wall disposed in the plate and enclosing a transmission orifice arranged in a transmission profile to: transmit probe particles having a trajectory coincident with the transmission orifice, block probe particles having a trajectory external to the transmission orifice, and form a probe particle beam comprising the probe particles transmitted by the transmission orifice to the particle detector, wherein the transmission profile includes a sector, a semi-circle, an annular sector, or a combination including at least one of the foregoing first transmission profiles. |
| US09970855B2 |
Miniature electrical aerosol spectrometer
A miniature electrical-mobility aerosol spectrometer comprising a 3D-printed body comprising: (i) a single inlet section configured to receive particles to be evaluated by the spectrometer; (ii) an electrostatic precipitator section coupled to the electrostatic precipitator section; (iii) a classifier section, wherein the electrostatic precipitator section is coupled to the classifier section; and (iv) an outlet, wherein the classifier section is coupled to the outlet; a high voltage classifier plate positioned within the classifier section; and a classifier component positioned within the classifier section opposite the high voltage classifier plate, wherein the classifier component comprises sensing circuitry configured to detect particles in the classifier section, and wherein the classifier section comprises a two-sided printed circuit board, wherein the two-sided printed circuit board comprises the sensing circuitry, and wherein a first side of the two-sided printed circuit board comprises a plurality of printed collection plates. |
| US09970851B2 |
Measuring head for nanoindentation instrument and measuring method
A measuring head for a nano-indentation instrument, said nano-indentation instrument comprising a positioning system arranged to position a sample relative to the measuring head, the measuring head comprising: a measuring subsystem attached to a frame adapted to be connected to the nano-indentation instrument, the measuring subsystem comprising a first actuator and an indenter adapted to indent a surface of said sample under application of a force applied by the first actuator on the indenter, the measuring subsystem further comprising a force sensing system adapted to detect said force applied by the first actuator; a reference subsystem attached to said frame, the reference subsystem comprising a second actuator, a reference structure in operative connection with the second actuator, and a separation detector adapted to determine a predetermined separation of the reference structure and said surface of said sample. |
| US09970850B2 |
Sheet of colloidal crystals immobilized in resin, method of displaying structural color using same, method for detecting unevenness distribution or hardness distribution of subject using same, and structural color sheet
A sheet of colloidal crystals immobilized in resin exhibiting intense structural color and allowing easy observation thereof from squarely facing direction against the surface; and application thereof are provided. The sheet includes crystal domains comprising colloidal crystals immobilized in resin. The Bragg reflection intensity resulting from crystal domains according to back reflection spectrum measurement to the sheet surface satisfies the following conditions (1) and (2). (1) When elevation angle from the sheet surface is in a range of at least 60° and less than 90° and measurement is performed at a predetermined azimuth angle on the sheet surface, intensity is not 0 and (2) when elevation angle from the sheet surface is in the range of at least 60° and less than 90° and azimuth dependency on the sheet surface is measured, the intensity exhibits a maximum value at the predetermined azimuth angle. |
| US09970848B2 |
Method for evaluating state of horny layer and method for evaluating horny layer improvement effect of cosmetic preparation
The invention relates to providing a method for more conveniently evaluating stratum corneum condition. A stratum corneum sheet is contacted with a solution of a water-soluble dye, and the staining intensity or fluorescence intensity is measured to allow convenient evaluation of the stratum corneum condition. There is further provided a method for evaluating the ameliorating effect of a cosmetic or cosmetic treatment on the stratum corneum, by implementing the method for evaluating stratum corneum condition using a water-soluble dye according to the invention. |
| US09970847B2 |
Method for staining tissue
Provided is a method for staining a tissue enabling highly precise staining, by which the expression amount and/or the location of a biological substance in a tissue sample can be detected with a high quantitativity together with detailed information that can be obtained by bright field observation.The tissue staining method of the present invention is a method for staining a tissue, in which both staining that allows bright field observation and fluorescence staining are carried out for the same specific biological substance. |
| US09970846B2 |
System and method for determining high frequency multi-degree of freedom dynamic properties of motor vehicle chassis components
A system for determining dynamic properties of a chassis component includes a first fixture, a second fixture spaced from the first fixture, and a chassis component arranged between the first and second fixtures. The chassis component has a first end arranged at the first fixture and a second end arranged at the second fixture. A shaker system is arranged at the first end of the chassis component. A first multi-axis force transducer is arranged between the shaker system and the chassis component. The first multi-axis force transducer includes at least a 3 degree of freedom (DOF) sensing capability. A second multi-axis force transducer is arranged between the second end of the chassis component and the second fixture. The second multi-axis force transducer includes at least a 3 degree of freedom (DOF) sensing capability. A controller is coupled to the shaker system, and the first and second multi-axis dynamic force transducers. |
| US09970843B2 |
Detecting structural integrity of a structural component
Each of a plurality electronic circuit devices fixed to a structural component of a physical structure can be scanned a first time, using a radio frequency (RF) scanner to receive, from each of the plurality of electronic circuit devices, first data indicating a first measured electrical impedance of a respective conductor connected to the electronic circuit device and an identifier assigned to the electronic circuit device. For each of the plurality of electronic circuit devices, the first data indicating the first measured electrical impedance and the identifier assigned to the electronic circuit device can be stored to a first memory. The first data indicating the first measured electrical impedance and the identifier for each of the electronic devices can form a baseline measurement of the electronic circuit devices. |
| US09970842B2 |
High sensitivity environmental sensor network and network services for structural health monitoring
A high sensitivity structural health monitoring network includes a plurality of sensor nodes disposed apart from each other and communicating through one or more sensor channels. The nodes include smart sensor circuit boards with an interface to a wireless smart sensor board platform, a multi-axis accelerometer having a measurement range and resolution set to provide sensitivity to measure ambient structural vibrations an analog to digital converter for converting signals that includes a plurality of individual channels being individually programmable for signal conditioning for providing data to the interface. A network framework provides network services including a time synchronization service with network-wide global timestamps for sensor data and a unified sensing service that supports collection of data for all sensor channels from all nodes together with a single set of associated time stamps. |
| US09970830B2 |
Approach to measuring strain effects using ring oscillators
A ring oscillator system for characterizing substrate strain including, a substrate including a through-substrate-via, at least two ring oscillators, wherein a first ring oscillator is closer to the through-substrate-via than a second ring oscillator, and a logic difference circuit that is configured to receive an input from at least the first ring oscillator and the second ring oscillator, and detect a difference between the signal frequency of the first ring oscillator and the signal frequency of the second ring oscillator. |
| US09970829B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling the temperature of a calibration volume of a device for comparative calibration of temperature sensors
The invention relates to a method for regulating the temperature of the calibration volume of an apparatus for comparative calibration of temperature sensors to a target temperature, wherein said calibration device comprises heat sources and/or heat sinks, which are in thermal contact via a heat conducting part or a plurality of heat conducting parts with the calibration volume, wherein in at least one process step the real thermal state is calculated, wherein the Kalman filter is fed the measurement values of a temperature sensor located in the calibration device, and in at least one more process step the future thermal state is calculated using a thermal model of the dynamics of states. |
| US09970827B2 |
Fuel temperature estimation device
A fuel temperature estimation device that can improve the estimation accuracy of a fuel temperature in each part of a fuel channel, is provided. In the invention, the fuel temperature estimation device estimates the fuel temperature of each part of the fuel channel in a vehicle (for example, an injection nozzle, a pressure accumulator, a high-pressure pump), and includes a flow rate measuring device that measures a fuel flow rate of a fuel return system of the fuel channel and a controller. The controller includes a fuel temperature correction unit that corrects an estimated fuel temperature in a fuel injection system based on the fuel flow rate of the fuel return system, and has a function of estimating the fuel temperature using the fuel flow rate of the fuel return system as a parameter. |
| US09970826B2 |
Bipolar junction transistor voltage-drop-based temperature sensors
Temperature sensors using bipolar junction transistors are provided. Examples of the disclosed sensors minimize effects of IR drop and have improved accuracy. An example temperature sensor includes a first branch coupled between a power supply and ground. The first branch includes a first transistor series-coupled with a second transistor via a first node and has a first temperature sensor output via the first node. The temperature sensor also includes a second branch coupled between the power supply and ground. The second branch includes a third transistor series-coupled with a fourth transistor via a second node and has a second temperature sensor output via the second node. The first through fourth transistors are diode-connected and can have an n-well structure or a deep n-well structure. The temperature sensor also includes a voltage sensor having an input coupled to the first temperature sensor output and the second temperature sensor output. |
| US09970825B2 |
Temperature sensing with feedback digital-analog converter (DAC) of delta-sigma modulator
A delta-sigma modulator may be used to generate temperature information within an integrated circuit. The delta-sigma modulator may include a loop filter, a quantizer, and a feedback digital-to-analog converter (DAC). Temperature sensing elements may be incorporated into the feedback DAC of the delta-sigma modulator. Temperature information is then processed in the loop filter of the delta-sigma modulator and output in an average voltage value of a digital signal output from the delta-sigma modulator. |
| US09970820B2 |
Room-temperature quantum noise limited spectrometry and methods of the same
According to one embodiment, a heterodyne detection system for detecting light, includes: a first input aperture configured to receive first light from a scene input; a second input aperture configured to receive second light from a local oscillator input; a broadband local oscillator configured to provide the second light to the second input aperture; a dispersive element configured to disperse the first light and the second light; and a final condensing lens coupled to a detector. The final condensing lens is configured to concentrate incident light from a primary condensing lens onto the detector. The detector is configured to sense a frequency difference between the first light and the second light; and the final condensing lens comprises a plasmonic condensing lens. Methods for forming a plasmonic condensing lens to enable room temperature quantum noise limited spectrometry are also disclosed. |
| US09970819B2 |
High performance parallel spectrometer device
A spectrometer with increased optical throughput and/or spectral resolution includes a plurality of interferometers coupled in parallel. An optical splitter divides a source light beam into a plurality of input beams and directs each of the input beams to a respective one of the plurality of interferometers. One or more detectors are optically coupled to receive a respective output from each of the plurality of interferometers and is configured to detect an interferogram produced as a result of the outputs. |
| US09970816B2 |
Light sensor modules and spectrometers including an optical grating structure
An optoelectronic module includes a light guide arranged to receive light, such as ambient light or light reflected by an object. The light guide has a diffractive grating that includes multiple sections, each of which is tuned to a respective wavelength or narrow band of wavelengths. The module further includes multiple photosensitive elements, each of which is arranged to receive light diffracted by a respective one of the sections of the diffractive grating. The module can be integrated, for example, as part of a spectrometer or other apparatus for optically determining characteristics of an object. |
| US09970815B2 |
LiBS analyzer sample presence detection system and method
A LIBS analyzer and method includes a laser configured to produce a plasma on a sample at a focal point on the sample and a spectrometer responsive to radiation emitted from the plasma and configured to produce an output spectrum. A detector is positioned to detect low intensity pre-firing radiation produced by the laser and reflected off the sample from the focal point. The intensity of the low intensity pre-firing radiation is compared to a predetermined minimum and the laser pump sequence is halted if the intensity of the low intensity pre-firing radiation is less than the predetermined minimum. |
| US09970810B2 |
Weighing system and weighing method having weighing uninterrupted functions
A weighing system and a weighing method are disclosed having uninterrupted weighing functions. A plurality of load cells in the weighing system are arranged so that each load cell has a local small neighborhood, the local small neighborhood being defined by four neighboring points in front, back, left, and right of the load cell and four points on diagonal directions in a matrix. A weighing control module polls the load cells to determine whether there is failed load cell(s), and performs a calculation: W.=f(W1,W2,W3,W4,W5,W6,W7), where f is a non-linear mapping; and W1 . . . W8 represents weighing outputs of load cells corresponding to the eight points in the local small neighborhood so as to calculate an estimated weighing output of the failed load cell. |
| US09970806B2 |
Single conductor probe radar level gauge system and method for a tank having a tubular mounting structure
The present invention relates to a radar level gauge system for a tank having a tubular mounting structure. The radar level gauge system comprises a transceiver; a single conductor probe extending through the tubular mounting structure; an electrically conductive shielding structure radially spaced apart from the single conductor probe and extending along the single conductor probe inside the mounting structure; a connecting member extending radially from the shielding structure to electrically couple the shielding structure to the tank; and processing circuitry connected to the transceiver for determining the filling level. |
| US09970805B2 |
Adjustable meter with tamper detection
A meter assembly includes: a meter housing including a top portion, the top portion including a mounting boss, the mounting boss including an engagement hook and protruding axially from a top surface of the top portion of the first housing; a register housing connected to the top portion of the first housing and configured to rotate with respect to the first housing about a rotation axis; and a retaining fastener connecting the second housing to the first housing, the retaining fastener including a one of a hook and a flange configured to engage the mounting boss and a one of a hook and a flange configured to engage the second housing. |
| US09970799B2 |
System of ultrasonic consumption meters with pressure sensors
A system of a plurality of ultrasonic consumption meters 100 each arranged in a utility network 1 for measuring consumption data of a utility in terms of a supplied fluid, the utility network 1 further comprising a data collector 2 for collecting the consumption data is provided, wherein: Each of the ultrasonic consumption meters 100 are arranged to measure a flow rate of the supplied fluid and a pressure of the supplied fluid, the consumption meters 100 comprising: A flow tube 110 with a through-going opening 112 for passage of a fluid between an inlet and an outlet, the flow tube having a wall with an outer surface 114; two ultrasonic transducers 120, 122 arranged at the outer surface 114 of the flow tube 110, so that ultrasonic signals are transmitted through the wall; a control circuit 30 arranged for operating the two ultrasonic transducers 120, 122 and to generate a signal indicative of the flow rate of the fluid; and a communication module 140 connected to the control circuit 130 and arranged for communicating the signal indicative of the flow rate of the fluid to the data collector 2; wherein the control circuit 130 is arranged for operating a first strain gauge 150 arranged at the outer surface 114 of the flow tube 110 to generate a signal indicative of the pressure of the fluid, and 1 wherein the communication module 140 is arranged for communicating the signal indicative of the pressure of the fluid to the data collector 2. The consumption meters 100 of the system are capable of obtaining and communicating data relating to flow and pressure in a utility network to an operator of the network for proper operation of the network. |
| US09970798B2 |
Flush mounted ultrasonic transducer arrays for flow measurement
A flow meter system includes a first ultrasonic transducer array to be flush-mounted to a pipe. The system also includes a second ultrasonic transducer array to be flush-mounted to the pipe. The system further includes a controller coupled to the first and second ultrasonic transducer arrays and configured to cause bidirectional beam steering between the first and second ultrasonic transducer arrays. |
| US09970797B2 |
Transit time flow metering probe with repeating pair of ultrasonic transducers connected in parallel
A transit time flow sensor is configured as an insertable probe carrying transducers spaced apart along an acoustic path that may be segmented. The transducers are attached to non-wetted surfaces of respective tabs extending outwardly from the probe and functioning as acoustic windows. The tabs are selectively skewed with respect to the probe's flow axis so that acoustic signals from one transducer are detected by another. Directly communicating transducers may be on the same or opposite sides of the probe's flow axis. |
| US09970794B2 |
Flow sensor system with absorber
A flow sensor sub-assembly for sensing flow of a fluidic medicament includes a flow tube having a flow tube inlet and a flow tube outlet, and an acoustical transmission rate. The medicament flows through the flow tube. A first piezo element is arranged at an upstream position of the flow tube and a second piezo element is arranged at a downstream position of the flow tube, such that the first piezo element and the second piezo element are mounted apart a pre-selected distance from each other. An absorber sheath encircles the flow tube. The absorber sheath has an upstream end and a downstream end. The absorber sheath is comprised of a material with an acoustical transmission rate different than the flow tube. |
| US09970792B2 |
Stepper motor assembly having opposite shafts
A stepper motor assembly, for use in an instrument panel in some applications, has a first rotor, a second rotor, a set of first electromagnets, and a set of second electromagnets. Each electromagnet is disposed adjacent to one of the first and second rotors and is configured to generate a magnetic field to rotate the respective rotor. The first rotor is configured to rotate a first shaft, wherein the first shaft extends from a first side of the stepper motor assembly. The second rotor is configured to rotate a second shaft, wherein the second shaft extends from a second side of the stepper motor assembly. The second side is opposite the first side. The first and second shafts are rotatable independently about a single shaft axis. |
| US09970784B2 |
Cable with sensor
A cable with a sensor includes electrically insulated wires, a sheath for covering the electrically insulated wires together, a sensor, and a housing for sealing one end of the sheath, while receiving at least a portion of the sensor. The housing includes a receiving portion for receiving the at least portion of the sensor, a lead out portion for the sheath being drawn therefrom, and a curved cylinder section having a circular cross section. The curved cylinder section is provided between the receiving portion and the lead out portion, to hold the electrically insulated wires. The curved cylinder section is made of a molded resin formed in a circular cross sectional shape at right angles to a direction of extending of the electrically insulated wires. The electrically insulated wires are held in the middle of the circular cross section of the curved cylinder section. |
| US09970783B2 |
Magnetic rotation angle sensor that corrects for magnetic pole misalignment
A rotation angle sensor includes a ring magnet that is provided around a rotating shaft, a magnetic field sensor that detects magnetic field strengths in radial and tangent directions of the rotating shaft, a rotation angle calculation section that calculates a rotation angle of the rotating shaft based on the magnetic field strengths detected by the magnetic field sensor, a correction value storage section that stores correction values preliminarily set for each magnetic pole or each pair of magnetic poles facing the magnetic field sensor, a facing magnetic pole detecting means that detects the magnetic pole or the pair of magnetic poles facing the magnetic field sensor, and a rotation angle correcting section that extracts correction values corresponding to the magnetic pole or the pair of magnetic poles detected, and corrects a rotation angle calculated in the rotation angle calculation section by using the extracted correction values. |
| US09970773B2 |
Navigation system for accessing navigation data stored in an access-protected manner
A navigation system stores navigation data in an access-protected manner. The navigation system includes navigation units that utilize the navigation data retained in a memory. The system includes a module for authenticating the access code. The system may include a module for generating an access protection code for storing the navigation data in memory. The access code and the access protection code may be used in a complementary scheme to secure the navigation data set. |
| US09970769B2 |
Flexible organization of navigation attributes to support hybrid navigation and data streaming
Methods, apparatuses, and systems are provided which allow for flexible organization of navigation attributes to support hybrid navigation and data streaming. A system may receive a request for geographic data. The system may identify a map attribute from the request. The system may query a metatable with the map attribute for a binary large object entry address, wherein the metatable includes a plurality of binary large object entry addresses. The system may access a navigation database using the binary large object entry address for a binary large object including data for the map attribute. The system may generate a map command including the data for the map attribute. |
| US09970765B2 |
Information processor, and information processing method for guiding a route
A positional change calculation processing unit and a positioning signal processing unit obtain the current position. Network information indicating information about a route at the time of moving from one point to another point is stored in a storage unit. A navigation processing unit searches for the route to a destination point by using the network information. When the moving route based on the position obtained by the positional change calculation processing unit and the positioning signal processing unit is different from the searched route then the route is re-searched in the search condition according to the moving route. When the user intends to move on a route different from the searched route, the search condition is changed according to the moving route and the route is researched according to the intention of the user and the user is automatically guided. |
| US09970764B2 |
Bulk acoustic wave gyroscope with spoked structure
A Coriolis-based bulk acoustic wave gyroscope includes a center-supported resonating element with capacitively-coupled drive, sense, and control electrodes. The resonating element has a first substantially solid or perforated region which is connected to the center-support by a second region characterized by a plurality of spokes or beams. When operating in a resonance state, the first region undergoes a bulk acoustic mode of vibration while the second region undergoes a flexural mode of vibration. Energy losses associated with the flexural mode of vibration reduce the overall quality factor (Q) at high resonance frequencies creating a large bandwidth and a fast response time without needing vacuum. |
| US09970753B2 |
System and method of measuring geometric characteristics of object
A system includes a light emitting unit, a front mirror, a rear mirror, an imaging unit and a processor. The light emitting unit is configured to emit a collimated light beam. The front mirror is configured to reflect part of the collimated light beam to produce and project a front focused ring of structured light to an object to obtain a front reflected ring of light, and configured to allow part of the collimated light beam to pass by. The rear mirror is positioned downstream of a light transmitting path of the front mirror. The rear mirror is configured to reflect at least part of the collimated light beam passing by the front mirror to produce and project a rear focused ring of the structured light to the object to obtain a rear reflected ring of light. |
| US09970752B2 |
Method and device for determining a headlight range alignment
A method for determining a headlight range alignment of at least one first headlight of a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle includes at least one optical sensor which is designed for detecting at least one part of a first illuminated area of the first headlight and generating a first image having the part of the first illuminated area. The method includes the following steps: reading in the first image from the optical sensor, selecting at least one first image area in the first image, whereby a cut-off line of the first headlight is intended to be imaged in the first image area, and determining the headlight range alignment as a function of the first image area. |
| US09970751B2 |
Optical axis angle inspection device
An optical axis angle inspection device is provided with a first camera and a screen which are disposed in front of a laser distance meter, is provided with a point light source on the screen, and is provided with a second camera disposed behind the laser distance meter. An image of the laser distance meter is captured by the first camera, and the height of the point light source is fitted to the height of the laser distance meter on the basis of the captured image. Then, an image of the point light source is captured by the second camera, and a difference in height between the centroid of the captured image and the point light source is specified. The optical axis angle of the laser distance meter is calculated from the difference in height and the distance from the screen to the laser distance meter. |
| US09970750B2 |
Shape inspection apparatus for metallic body and shape inspection method for metallic body
[Object] To perform shape inspection of a metallic body in a simple way at higher speed with higher density.[Solution] An apparatus of the present invention includes: a measurement apparatus configured to irradiate a metallic body with at least two illumination light beams, and measure reflected light separately; and an arithmetic processing apparatus configured to calculate information used for shape inspection of the metallic body on the basis of measurement results. The measurement apparatus includes a plurality of illumination light sources configured to emit strip-shaped illumination light having different peak wavelengths, and a plurality of monochrome line sensor cameras that have band-pass filters and are aligned vertically above a surface of the metallic body and set to capture images of the same portion of the metallic body by their respective shift lenses, the number of the monochrome line sensor cameras being the same as the number of the peak wavelengths of the emitted illumination light. At least two of the plurality of illumination light sources are provided in a manner that an angle formed by a normal direction to the surface of the metallic body and an optical axis of the first illumination light source is substantially equal to an angle formed by the normal direction and an optical axis of the second illumination light source and the two illumination light sources face each other with the line sensor cameras therebetween in a relative movement direction of the metallic body and the measurement apparatus. |
| US09970747B2 |
Position measurement with illumination profile having two diametrically opposed off-axis radiation
An apparatus (AS) measures positions of marks (202) on a lithographic substrate (W). An illumination arrangement (940, 962, 964) provides off-axis radiation from at least first and second regions. The first and second source regions are diametrically opposite one another with respect to an optical axis (O) and are limited in angular extent. The regions may be small spots selected according to a direction of periodicity of a mark being measured, or larger segments. Radiation at a selected pair of source regions can be generated by supplying radiation at a single source feed position to a self-referencing interferometer. A modified half wave plate is positioned downstream of the interferometer, which can be used in the position measuring apparatus. The modified half wave plate has its fast axis in one part arranged at 45° to the fast axis in another part diametrically opposite. |
| US09970746B2 |
Diffusive optical fiber sensor and communication device and method of use
Techniques for fiber optic light sensing and communication are provided. Specifically, systems and methods to provide diffusive optical fiber sensors and communication devices and methods of use are disclosed. |
| US09970741B1 |
Cartridge case preparation rotor device
The cartridge case preparation rotor device trims cartridge cases to overall length correctly and further prepares them for reloading. The rotor holds multiple case preparation tools so that the user may conveniently and precisely apply them more squarely to a turning cartridge case. The rotor slides and turns on a rod mounted opposite a variable speed motor fitted with a chuck turning a case holder. Flexibility of the rod and oscillation of the rotor permit each tool to follow case eccentricity. An enlarged grip on the case holder simplifies installation and removal of cases. A neck cleaning tool cleans the inside and outside of the case neck simultaneously. The rotor may be slid along and turned upon the rod manually, or the motor and rotor can be mounted on a progressive press. The pushbutton control switch can be pressed by hand, or set on the floor as a foot switch. |
| US09970739B2 |
Projectile with reduced ricochet risk
The invention relates to a projectile (5) with a frangible material, for short-range ammunition. To prevent any significant losses of precision and prevent the internal ballistic loading from being so great that it leads to the destruction of the projectile, it is suggested according to the invention that the projectile (5) consists of a shell (4) made of brass, the shell (4) has, seen in the direction of flight, a front cylindrical receiving space (4a) and a rear cylindrical receiving space (4b), the two receiving spaces (4a, 4b) are arranged coaxially with the longitudinal axis (15) of the projectile and are separated from each other by a partition wall (16), the partition wall (16) forms the floor (18) of the front receiving space (4a), and a core (1) of a frangible material is inserted in the front receiving space (4a), the tip (17) of the core (1) protrudes out of the front receiving space (4a), and at least one predetermined breaking point (2), running around the circumference of the shell (4), is formed in the shell (4) in the region of the partition wall (16). |
| US09970737B2 |
Optopyrotechnic initiator
An optical initiator of a pyrotechnic charge, including: a body including a cavity, which contains the pyrotechnic charge and a mechanism for igniting the charge by absorption of a laser radiation, the ignition mechanism being placed in contact with the charge; a laser radiation source; an optical fiber for transporting laser radiation from the source to the ignition mechanism. The ignition mechanism includes a metal plate and the metal plate and the laser radiation source are configured for a laser radiation issuing from the laser radiation source to be absorbed by the metal plate and converted into thermal energy, so that thermal conduction of the thermal energy from the metal plate to the pyrotechnic charge causes the ignition of the pyrotechnic charge. The metal plate can include perforations arranged periodically. |
| US09970735B2 |
Telescopic sight
A telescopic sight for a firearm, comprising an external housing and a manually adjustable sighting adjustment mechanism comprising a manual adjustment control and a plunger. The optical system comprises a sighting assembly with a movable member for adjusting sighting. The plunger is slidably in a port in the housing, linking the adjustment control with the movable member. Manual adjusting the manual control causes the plunger to move the movable member, making the sighting adjustment. The housing interior remains atmospherically sealed as the plunger slides in the port. The manual adjustment control is removably affixed to the housing, and the manual adjustment control is fully separable from the plunger which remains slidably engaged and retained in the port when the manual adjustment control is removed from the housing, in order to maintain the atmospheric seal of the housing interior. |
| US09970732B2 |
Compact and ergonomic ball-launching dog toy
A ball-launching device includes a housing, ball holder, elastomeric member, cocking member, latch, and trigger assembly. The housing has an opening at a first end defining an elongated cavity. The ball holder is disposed in the housing cavity and slidable in an axial direction from a first position proximate to the opening at the housing first end, to a second position. The elastomeric member is selectively arranged within the housing to bias the ball holder toward the first position. The cocking member includes a first portion disposed outside of the housing, being usable to move the ball holder into a cocked position, where the latch may oppose the bias of the elastomeric member and releasably secure the cocking member and the ball holder thereat. Actuating the trigger assembly releases the latch, permitting the elastomeric member to accelerate the ball holder towards the housing first end to launch the ball therefrom. |
| US09970730B2 |
Archery bow overdraw sensing and light indicator system
Archery bow overdraw or under draw sensing system is comprised of four main parts: (1) a force sensing resistor (FSR) on the bow limb near a cam between the draw stop on the cam and the bow limb where the draw stop rests on the bow limb at full draw or on the grip; (2) at least one LED light mounted on or adjacent to the bow sight; (3) a controller for reading the force of the draw stop on the force sensing resister (FSR) and controlling the on/off function of the LED; and (4); and a power source for the system. |
| US09970721B1 |
Cam pin
A cam pin having a cam pin shaft, wherein said shaft extends from a terminal end surface, along a longitudinal axis, to a shoulder; a firing pin aperture formed through said cam pin shaft; and a head, wherein said head extends from said shoulder, along said longitudinal axis, to a crown, wherein a surface of said crown is finished with a substantially smooth surface. |
| US09970720B2 |
Method for monitoring a heat exchanger unit
Embodiments of the disclosure pertain to a method for monitoring a heat exchanger unit that may include the steps of: associating a monitoring module with an airflow side of the heat exchanger unit; operating the monitoring module whereby a microcontroller performs tasks related to data acquisition, data comparison, and providing an indication; and taking an action based on the indication. The monitoring module includes an at least one sensor proximate to the airflow side; a logic circuit in operable communication with the at least one sensor, and further comprising the microcontroller. |
| US09970719B2 |
Water collection system for indirect evaporative cooler
A water collection system is provided for an indirect evaporative cooler. The water collection system includes a housing having an open bottom, a front wall, a back wall, and two end walls, which together define an interior region of the housing. The water collection system further includes a plurality of tube assemblies each extending through one of the front wall and the back wall of the housing and disposed within the interior region of the housing. The water collection system further includes a plurality of panel assemblies disposed within the interior region of the housing above the plurality of tube assemblies. Each panel assembly is associated with a respective tube assembly to channel fluid to the tube assembly. A method of collecting and distributing water within an indirect evaporative cooler configured to spray water on a heat exchanger is further disclosed. |
| US09970715B2 |
Thermal energy storage apparatus
A thermal energy store comprising a chamber having a gas inlet and a gas outlet and a plurality of successive, downstream, gas permeable thermal storage layers disposed between them, each layer comprising gas permeable thermal storage media, the store being configured for gas flow from the gas inlet to gas outlet through the layers for transfer of thermal energy to or from the thermal storage media, wherein at least one of the layers is a valved layer provided with at least one valve operable selectively to allow or prevent at least some gas flow through that layer via the valve so as to bypass the thermal storage media. A control system may selectively alter the flow path of the gas flowing from inlet to outlet in response to the progress of a thermal front, so as to bypass thermal storage layers upstream of the thermal front, where transfer is complete, or downstream thereof, where transfer is minimal. |
| US09970711B2 |
Lithium stuffed garnet setter plates for solid electrolyte fabrication
Setter plates are fabricated from Li-stuffed garnet materials having the same, or substantially similar, compositions as a garnet Li-stuffed solid electrolyte. The Li-stuffed garnet setter plates, set forth herein, reduce the evaporation of Li during a sintering treatment step and/or reduce the loss of Li caused by diffusion out of the sintering electrolyte. Li-stuffed garnet setter plates, set forth herein, maintain compositional control over the solid electrolyte during sintering when, upon heating, lithium is prone, to diffuse out of the solid electrolyte. |
| US09970703B2 |
Refrigerator and manufacturing method thereof
A refrigerator and a manufacturing method thereof including processes of separately manufacturing partitions dividing a storage space into a plurality of storage chambers from a main body including an inner casing and an outer casing, coupling the partitions to an inner surface of the inner casing, filling a space between the inner casing and the partitions with an insulator, and filling the partitions with the insulator by filling a space between the inner casing and the outer casing with the insulator. Since the insulator uniformly fills the partitions dividing the storage space into the plurality of storage chambers, the partitions may possess improved insulating qualities. |
| US09970700B2 |
Cooling apparatus and control method thereof
A cooling apparatus includes a storage compartment, an evaporator to cool air in the storage compartment by evaporating a refrigerant, a compressor to compress the refrigerant evaporated by the evaporator, an air blower to supply the air cooled by the evaporator to the storage compartment and to remove frost formed on the evaporator, a storage temperature sensor to sense a temperature of the storage compartment, a driving unit to drive the compressor and the air blower, and a controller to perform a defrosting operation of operating the air blower to remove frost formed on the evaporator when a cooling operation of cooling the storage compartment is terminated and to perform the cooling operation, wherein the controller defers, when the defrosting operation is being performed, operation of the compressor, even if the temperature of the storage compartment is greater than or equal to the storage upper limit temperature. |
| US09970689B2 |
Cooling system having a condenser with a micro-channel cooling coil and sub-cooler having a fin-and-tube heat cooling coil
In an aspect, a cooling system has a cooling circuit that includes an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, a sub-cooler and an expansion device configured in a direct expansion cooling circuit with the sub-cooler coupled in series between an outlet of the condenser and an inlet of the expansion device. The condenser has a micro-channel cooling coil and the sub-cooler has a fin-and-tube cooling coil. In an aspect, the fin-and-tube cooling coil of the sub-cooler has a total hydraulic volume equivalent to the total hydraulic volume of the micro-channel cooling coil of the condenser but the fin-and-tube cooling coil of the sub-cooler has a face area more than two times smaller than a face area of the micro-channel cooling coil of the condenser. |
| US09970685B2 |
Device and method for fixing objects, in particular solar panels, to a roof
The invention relates to a device for fixing objects, in particular solar panels, to a roof. The invention also relates to an assembly of such devices. The invention further relates to a method for fixing objects, in particular solar panels, to a roof. |
| US09970684B2 |
Optical selective film
The present invention addresses the issue of providing an optical selective film that contributes to efficiently converting light into heat. This optical selective film is characterized in that: the optical selective film includes at least an Ag-containing layer, and an Ag diffusion prevention layer that is disposed adjacent to the Ag-containing layer; and the Ag diffusion prevention layer contains FeSix (X=1 to 2). |
| US09970680B1 |
Leveling base for water heater
A leveling base for leveling a water heater that is installed on an uneven and/or slanted surface. The water heater is placed atop the leveling base, and includes a plurality of elongated outer struts connected end-to-end to form an outer periphery. The base also includes a plurality of peripheral plates which are each used to rigidly secure together a pair of strut ends. Each peripheral plate includes a threaded rod that is connected to the peripheral plate and the lateral position of the rod with respect to the respective peripheral plate can be adjusted by rotating the rod. The lateral adjustment of each rod is used to level the leveling base. There is also a central plate positioned within the outer periphery which is connected to the outer struts by a plurality of radial struts. The central plate also includes a laterally-adjustable threaded rod. |
| US09970679B2 |
Burner assembly for a heating furnace
A burner assembly for a fuel-fired heating furnace. The assembly comprises a burner body having an inlet opening to receive fuel delivered by a fuel control module, and, to receive an ambient source of primary air there-through. The furnace also comprises one or more burner heads connected to a common outlet opening of the burner body to receive a mixture of the fuel and the primary air. |
| US09970678B2 |
Energy efficient electric heater for air and other gaseous fluid
An improved energy efficient electric, heater for air and other gaseous fluid comprise of a) ceramic monolithic heater body 3 provided with plurality of passages 4, inclined from proximal to distal end, making an angle with reference to the longitudinal central axis of the said heater body, and b) one or more electrical resistance heating elements 6, with their terminal ends 10 connected to a common power source. One additional passage 7 can be provided along its longitudinal central axis for insertion of a second fluid transfer pipe 8 for a secondary fluid that is to be mixed, heated and or dried. The heater body 3 is enclosed in metal casing 1, with an insulation layer 9 in between and fastened to an air pipe 15 from an air source 13 at the inlet side and an extension pipe 16 at the outlet end and can be effectively utilized in spray drying, surface heating, shrink wrapping etc. |
| US09970677B2 |
Air-conditioning vent vane adjusting device
An air-conditioning vent vane adjusting device includes a board for driving a vane to rotate, a push-button slidably installed on a panel, and a connecting plate fixedly attached to the board. A fixed plate is coupled to the push-button and is moved together with the push-button, and the fixed plate has a guide notch tilted with respect to the longitudinal direction of the board. The board has a lug accommodated in the guide notch and capable of sliding in the guide notch. With the tilted guide notch and the lug, the board can be moved reciprocally to overcome the problems of requiring a large operating force of the push-button of the tight assembly of the conventional board and connecting plate and the difficulty of opening and closing a vane. |
| US09970676B2 |
Indoor unit of air conditioner
An indoor unit of an air conditioner, comprising an air duct, an air outlet in communication with the air duct, and an air deflector for guiding the direction of air outflow of the air conditioner, with a volute tongue being provided at an end of the air duct proximately to the air outlet, wherein it further comprises a rotation driving motor in drive connection with a left support end of the air deflector. |
| US09970674B2 |
Automated, adaptive ventilation for a data center
An adaptive ventilation system and method for a data center are provided. The adaptive ventilation system includes: one or more system-controlled vents facilitating dynamic redirection of airflow passing through the vent(s), and including (for instance) a plurality of adjustable louvers; and a plurality of sensors dispersed within the data center for ascertaining one or more feedback parameters within different zones of the data center. The system also includes a controller configured or programmed to automatically manage adjustment of the system-controlled vent(s) based on the ascertained feedback parameter(s) within the data center. The automatically managing includes, for instance, automatically controlling orientation of multiple louvers of the system-controlled vent(s) to dynamically facilitate a desired airflow discharge adjustment to at least one system-controlled vent based, at least in part, on the sensed feedback parameter(s) within the different zones. |
| US09970673B2 |
Model identification using comfort neutral testing
A method includes pairing manipulated variables and controlled variables in an HVAC system, perturbing a variable, controlling the HVAC system to maintain controlled variables in a comfort range, determining a state of the system, and deriving a model from the state of the system. |
| US09970664B2 |
Support for a cooking vessel
The invention relates to a support (5) for a cooking vessel, comprising a plurality of wings (25). The wings (25) are arranged in such a way as to at least partially define a free site (27) to be positioned over a burner (3) of a hot tray (1). Two consecutive wings (25) from the plurality of wings (25) define an opening (37) between each other. The support (5) for a cooking vessel is characterized in that an outer surface of each wing (25) has a concave form, and in that the concavity of the outer surface (29) of each wing (25) is oriented away from the free site (27). |
| US09970658B2 |
Pressure relief valve with rotating damper
A combustible gas burner includes gas flow conduit or a housing having an outlet and a pressure relief valve. The pressure relief valve includes a valve seat at the outlet, a valve body and a valve body rotator. The valve body is configured to engage the valve seat and move along an axis relative to the valve seat in response to a pressure at the outlet. The valve body rotator is configured to rotate the valve body about the axis in response to movement of the valve body along the axis relative to the valve seat. |
| US09970652B2 |
System and method of indirect lighting for a turntable display
A system and method for creating a visual display on an outer surface of a turntable platter. The system and method includes providing a light source around and directed toward the periphery of the platter that includes a number of reflective nodes on its outer peripheral surface. The reflective nodes project a lighted display around the outer periphery of the platter thereby creating a visual effect. |
| US09970650B1 |
I-see system and method
An apparatus for a user portable lighting system. In the system, multiple spaced apart lighting features arranged about a circumferential surface about the user in a substantially 360 degree field of user view to provide a hands-free lighting system. |
| US09970646B2 |
Heatsink with integrated electrical and base contacts
A heatsink having integrated electrical and base contacts for use with a light emitting diode (LED) light source. In some embodiments, a heatsink assembly for an LED lamp includes a first metallic heatsink component having a first wall portion and a first electrical contact, and a second metallic heatsink component having a second wall portion and a second, separate contact portion. A non-electrically conducting heatsink housing is configured to house the first wall portion and the second wall portion of the first and second heatsink components such that the first electrical contact extends from the non-electrically conducting heatsink housing and the second contact portion extends from the plastic housing in a manner to facilitate connection to hot and neutral lines of a power source. |
| US09970644B2 |
Lighting device
A lighting device may be provided that includes: a heat sink which includes a top surface and a member which has a side and is disposed on the top surface; a light source which includes a substrate disposed on the side of the member and light emitting devices disposed on the substrate, and has a reference point; and a cover which is coupled to the heat sink and includes an upper portion and a lower portion, which are divided by an imaginary plane passing through the reference point and being parallel with the top surface of the heat sink, wherein a distance from the reference point of the light source to the upper portion of the cover is larger than a distance from the reference point of the light source to the lower portion of the cover. |
| US09970642B2 |
Anti-explosion LED lamp housing
An anti-explosion LED lamp housing is used to separate an illumination module from an external environment and comprises a housing body and a housing cover. The housing body includes a shell having a spherical segment-like shape, an accommodation basin connected with the concave portion of the shell, and a wiring hole penetrating the housing body and the accommodation basin. The accommodation basin includes a first platform encircling the wiring hole and receiving the illumination module; a second platform encircling the first platform and having a level difference to the first platform; and an annular wall encircling the second platform. The housing cover includes a light-permeable plate disposed on the second platform; an annular pressing element forcing the light-permeable plate to press against the second platform and engaged with the annular wall tightly. The diameter of the circular base face of the shell is 4-15 times the height of the shell. |
| US09970634B1 |
Recessed luminaire for remodel applications
A remodel recessed luminaire includes a housing can that defines a first slope and a junction box that defines a second slope. Further, the housing can includes a channel to retain a thermoprotector therein, the channel being defined by an indentation formed in a top wall of the housing can. The junction box includes a top cover that is coupled to a main body of the junction box and the top wall of the housing can such that the top cover encloses a wire management cavity that is formed by the channel that is communication with a second cavity defined by the main body. Furthermore, the junction box includes a coupling feature to attach an electrical component to the junction box. The first slope and the second slope operate in unison to fit the remodel recessed luminaire through small ceiling apertures and/or ceiling apertures in thick ceilings. |
| US09970633B2 |
Lamp shade
A lamp shade is provided for covering a light source. The lamp shade has a hoodlike base body which is open at least at the bottom and at least partly transparent, which is placed over the light source and covers it. The base body can have on its outer surface at least one encircling indentation, in which a decorative ring is adapted to be fitted and braced there. |
| US09970629B2 |
Remote phosphor lighting devices and methods
A lighting device and method generates monochromatic light from one or more light point sources. A phosphor body is spatially separated from the point light source(s) to receive the monochromatic light generated by the first point light source and provide a multi-wavelength light through luminescence. The multi-wavelength light is emitted from the phosphor body across a multi-dimensional surface. Optionally, a lens body can receive the multi-wavelength light from the multi-dimensional surface and both reflect and refract the multi-wavelength light in an exit distribution out of the lens body. |
| US09970628B2 |
LED unit module, light-emitting device, and light source system
An LED unit module, a light-emitting device, and a light source system. The LED unit module comprises a substrate and an LED chipset arranged on the substrate. The LED chipset comprises at least five LED chips, where the LED chips are in a tight arrangement with each other, and the contour of a light-emitting side of the LED chipset is close to a regular hexagon. The LED chipset comprises LED chips of at least four colors, where the four colors are red, blue, green, and amber. The LED unit module allows for prevention of increased etendue and for uniform mixing of lights. |
| US09970627B2 |
Lamp unit and vehicle lamp apparatus including the same
A lamp unit which implements a source light source with a small number of light sources using a lens and a vehicle lamp apparatus including the same. The lamp unit includes an optical member, a base plate spaced from the optical member by a predetermined distance, and a spacer between the base plate and the optical member. The spacer supports an edge of the optical member, and a light source is disposed on the base plate. A lens is coupled to the base plate, and the lens covers the light source. The lens includes a connection portion contacting the base plate, and a reinforcement part contacting the spacer. |
| US09970626B1 |
Backlit, laser engraved metalized promotional items
Promotional items with enhanced advertising messaging. More specifically, embodiments are directed to a metallic-finished promotional item with a laser-engraved message that is illuminated or backlit by incorporating a light source into the promotional item. The light source acts to illuminate or brighten the laser-engraved message when the light source is powered on. Furthermore, according to embodiments, when the light source is not in use, the laser-engraved message remains appealing, hereinafter referred to “daylight appeal”, due to its enhanced contrast with the surrounding metallic finish. |
| US09970625B2 |
Method of illuminating ornament
A method of illuminating an ornament having a light emitting source, a battery power source and a control circuit energizing the light source at desired intensities over desired durations of time. Light from the right source travels through an ornament wall. The method repeats the steps of increasing the light intensity from a low to a high intensity during a rise time period; decreasing the light intensity to a low intensity during a fall time period which is not less than the rise time period; and, maintaining the low intensity of light during a remaining time period which is not less than the combined rise and fall time periods. The low intensity of light is less than one third the high intensity. The light intensity decreased and maintained briefly at zero intensity during an off time period between the remaining and rise time periods in an imperceptible manner. |
| US09970624B2 |
Lamp device for vehicle and lighting device for vehicle
An adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a reference position of an optical axis of a projection lens of a lens unit has a reference axis perpendicular to the optical axis and disposed in a plane which intersects with a focal point of the projection lens. The lens unit moves in an extension direction of the reference axis in accordance with rotation of a second screw. An acting point of a force to move the lens unit is disposed in a plane formed by the optical axis and the reference axis. |
| US09970621B2 |
Lighting apparatus having electrodes that change the focal position on a wavelength conversion element, vehicle having the same and method of controlling the same
The present disclosure aims to enhance controllability of a lighting apparatus and increase durability. A lighting apparatus includes a light source; a condenser that converges first light emitted from the light source onto a predetermined focal position of a wavelength conversion element as converged light; the wavelength conversion element that receives the converged light and emits second light at an emission point; and a projection lens that projects the second light as projection light. The lighting apparatus changes the focal position of the condenser lens to change the emission point of the second light to the projection lens, thereby being capable of projecting the second light in any direction. |
| US09970615B1 |
Light-based vehicle-device communications
A system for light-based vehicle-device communication includes a computer programmed to generate a first light pattern based on a received identifier, actuate a vehicle light according to the first light pattern, and then identify, from received image data, a second light pattern emitted from outside of the vehicle. The system may further include a mobile computing device programmed to generate the second light pattern based on a received vehicle identifier, and actuate a mobile device light according to the second light pattern. The mobile computing device may be programmed to identify, from received image data, the first light pattern. |
| US09970613B2 |
Lighting member, lighting device, and method for installing lighting member
There is provided a lighting film according to one aspect of the invention including: a first substrate having optical transparency; a plurality of lighting units formed of a plurality of polygonal prism-shaped structures having optical transparency provided on a first surface of the first substrate; and gaps provided between the plurality of lighting units, in which the lighting unit is a polygon which has five vertexes in a sectional shape orthogonal to a longitudinal direction and has all of internal angles smaller than 180°, the lighting unit includes a first side which is one side of the polygon corresponding to a surface contacted with the first substrate, and a plurality of vertexes including a first vertex and a second vertex which are vertexes corresponding to both ends of the first side and a third vertex which is not positioned on the first side, a length of a perpendicular line of the first side passing the third vertex is longer than a length of a perpendicular line of the first side passing a vertex other than the third vertex among the plurality of vertexes, and a shape of the lighting unit is asymmetrical with a perpendicular line of the first side passing the third vertex as the center. |
| US09970611B2 |
Flagpole illumination device
An illumination device having a pole mount, a light support that extends from the pole mount, a lighting unit is connected to the pole mount, and a solar panel assembly is mounted to the lighting unit. In another embodiment an illumination apparatus is provided having a pole mount and a lighting assembly, and the pole mount has a first clamp half and a second clamp half. In another preferred embodiment there is flexible lighting assembly comprising a mount that is connected to a slider bar that supports a slider. A light support arm is supported on the slider and the light support arm connects to a central support member. A flexible member extends from the central support member to a telescopic lighting assembly having a light-generating device. A solar unit is connected to the slider bar and is wired to and powers the light-generating device. |
| US09970605B2 |
Semiconductor light source apparatus
A reliable reflective typed semiconductor light source apparatus can emit various color lights having high brightness. The apparatus can include a first and second reflector layer, a phosphor plate disposed on the first reflector layer and a semiconductor light source. The phosphor plate can include at least one of at least one of a red phosphor, a green phosphor, a blue phosphor and a yellow phosphor. The light source can be located adjacent the phosphor plate so that an excited light emitted from the light source can be efficiently reflected on the first reflector layer via the phosphor plate and so that heats generated from the first reflector layer and the like can efficiently transmit toward the second reflector layer. Thus, the disclosed subject matter can provide a semiconductor light source apparatus that can emit various color lights having high brightness, and which can be used for general lighting, etc. |
| US09970602B2 |
LED tube lamp and power supply module applicable thereto
A power supply module is applicable to an LED tube lamp adapted to install on a lamp socket, and having electric shock protection function, the LED tube lamp including a lamp tube; two end caps, each having a first external connection terminal, and each coupled to a respective end of the lamp tube, the first connection terminals of the two end caps for receiving an external signal; and an LED module configured for emitting light. The power supply module includes: a rectifying circuit, coupled to the first external connection terminals of the end caps and the LED module, for rectifying a received signal to produce a rectified signal; a filtering circuit, coupled to the rectifying circuit and the LED module, for filtering the rectified signal to produce a filtered signal; a switch circuit configured to be switched according to a control signal; an electric shock protection controller coupled to the switch circuit, for detecting whether an electric shock risk has occurred, and configured to turn the switch circuit on or off according to the detection result; and impedance devices, which impedance devices and at least one electric component of the electric shock protection controller form a detection path. The electric shock protection controller is configured to cause a current to be conducted in the detection path for generating the detection result. |
| US09970601B2 |
Light tube and power supply circuit
A replacement light tube for replacing a fluorescent light tube includes a bulb portion extending between a first end and a second end, the bulb portion comprising a support structure, a plurality of white light emitting diodes (LEDs) and an elongate light-transmissive cover. The support structure has a first surface extending between the first end and the second end. The plurality of LEDs are supported by the first surface and arranged between the first end and the second end. The elongate light-transmissive cover extends between the first end and the second end and over the first surface of the support structure. A first end cap and a second end cap are disposed on the first end and the second end, respectively, each configured to fit with a socket for a fluorescent light tube. A power supply circuit is configured to provide power to the plurality of LEDs. The plurality of LEDs are arranged to emit light through the elongate light-transmissive cover and at least a portion of the power supply circuit is packaged inside at least one of the end caps. |
| US09970597B2 |
Flexible printed circuit board, planar light source apparatus, display apparatus, and electronic device
A flexible printed circuit board on which a first electronic component and a second electronic component are to be mounted adjacent to each other has a first land for soldering a terminal of the first electronic component on a side adjacent to the second electronic component, and a second land for soldering a terminal of the second electronic component on a side adjacent to the first electronic component. The first land and the second land are connected by a wire extending outside of an inter-land region that is an approximately belt-shaped region formed by connecting end portions in a width direction or end portions in a thickness direction of the first land and the second land in a straight line. |
| US09970594B2 |
Automatic drain
A drain hole for connecting a discharge hole and the inside of a collection container to each other is formed in a valve seat member. A float support is provided with a cylinder portion in which a piston is incorporated in a slidable manner. An vent valve for opening and closing a vent hole by means of a float is provided to the float support. A drain valve which operates between a closing position at which the drain valve closes the drain hole and an open position at which the drain valve opens the drain hole is provided to the piston. A bleed channel for connecting a piston chamber and the discharge hole to each other is formed by an orifice pin mounted in a bleed hole provided to the drain valve. |
| US09970593B2 |
Method for mounting electrical equipment to ceiling or to ceiling support structure
The truss mounting bracket simplifies installation of electronic type equipment below fabricated trusses commonly used in warehouse and other buildings. The mounting bracket includes a housing having at one end thereof a structure for connecting with an electrical conduit section. The opposite end of the housing is adapted to allow securement below a fabricated truss. A head portion extends from a center portion of the housing and has a thread connection therewith. The head portion engages the truss and allows the housing to be tightened against the lower surface of the truss. The conduit and the housing allow electrical cables to pass through the conduit and at least partially through the housing. |
| US09970588B2 |
Glass fiber board comprising inorganic binder and method for preparing the same
The present invention provides a glass fiber board comprising a glass fiber and an inorganic binder, wherein the inorganic binder comprises an aluminum phosphate.The present invention provides a method for preparing the glass fiber board comprising (a) preparing an inorganic binder solution comprising an aluminum phosphate (b) applying the inorganic binder solution comprising the aluminum phosphate to a glass fiber; (c) compressing the glass fiber to which the inorganic binder solution comprising the aluminum phosphate is applied; and (d) drying the compressed glass fiber. |
| US09970586B2 |
Fuel pipe clamp
An apparatus for protecting a tubing from a moving object includes a housing and a hooking member. The housing includes an exterior surface and a passage. The passage is configured to receive the tubing, and extends from a first end to a second end of the housing. The hooking member extends from the exterior surface of the housing, and is configured to catch onto the moving object to protect piece of tubing. |
| US09970575B2 |
Composition, tape and composite pipe made therefrom and a method of producing composite pipe
A composition comprising: (a) a thermoplastic polymer; (b) a plurality of particles, each said particle comprising (i) a core comprising one or more magnetic materials and (ii) a shell comprising silicon dioxide; and (c) structural fibers, wherein the composition comprises particles (b) in an amount from 1 to 30 wt % based on the weight of the thermoplastic polymer (a) is provided. Further provided is a tape comprising the composition, a pipe comprising the tape and a method of making such pipe. |
| US09970573B2 |
Cable tie assembly
A cable tie assembly including a fastener that includes base member. A retention leg extends from the base member for being received by and secured to a bore defined by the support structure. The fastener further includes a first hook that extends from the base member. The cable tie assembly also includes a lock housing that defines a channel that receives the base member of the fastener. The lock housing also includes a strap for being wrapped about the article. The lock housing further includes a second hook for engaging the first hook of the fastener when the lock housing is received by the channel to prevent movement of the fastener relative to the lock housing. The lock housing further includes a cross-member disposed below the second hook for preventing downward movement of the first hook while the first hook is positioned in engagement with the second hook. |
| US09970569B2 |
Closure member position indicator system for use in a blowout preventer
A system and method for detecting a position of a blowout preventer's closure members makes use of an indicator rod connected to a piston of the operator system and an electronic position sensor located entirely outside of a pressurized chamber of the operator system and arranged to detect a linear movement of the indicator rod. |
| US09970568B2 |
Emergency shut-off valve
An emergency shut-off valve includes a valve assembly positioned within a valve body and an actuator assembly operatively coupled to the valve assembly. A poppet is coupled to a shaft having a retaining member positioned within a slot in an arm of the poppet to prevent the poppet from being removed from the shaft. A gland has a first slot, a second slot opposite the first slot, where the first and second slots are configured to receive an end of a torsion spring, and a flange. An O-ring is positioned within a recess in the valve body at the outer surface to engage the flange to provide a seal between the gland and the valve body. |
| US09970567B2 |
Actuator apparatus with internal tubing and anti-rotation mechanism
Fluid valve actuator apparatus having internal tubing and anti-rotation features are disclosed. An example actuator apparatus includes a diaphragm plate defining a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber opposite the first pressure chamber, a first internal fluid passageway in fluid communication with atmosphere, and a second internal fluid passageway to receive a control fluid from a controller. The example apparatus also includes a tube fluidly coupling the first or second internal fluid passageway to the first pressure chamber via an opening in the diaphragm plate, where a first center axis of the tube is offset from a second center axis of the diaphragm plate, and where the tube passing through the diaphragm plate is to prevent the diaphragm plate from rotating. The example actuator apparatus also includes an adjustable spring seat in contact with a spring at a first end of the spring, where the spring is in contact with the diaphragm plate at a second end of the spring opposite the first end. |
| US09970566B2 |
Bistable electric valve, in particular for a system for recovering petrol vapours in a motor vehicle
Bistable electric valve comprising a housing (2) in which there is defined a chamber (10) having first and second openings (11a, 12a) and a main ferromagnetic obturator (15) displaceable between first and second working positions in which it respectively closes and opens the first opening (11a) for enabling and disabling respectively a flow of fluid from the second opening (12a) to the first opening (11a). The main obturator (15) has a through-hole (17) for establishing communication between the upstream and downstream regions. First and second permanent magnets (13, 14; 31, 32) are mounted in the housing (2) in the vicinity of the first and second openings (11a, 12a) for keeping the main obturator (15) in the first and second working positions, respectively. An auxiliary obturator (22) is mounted moveable in between the main obturator (15) and said second opening (12a) between first and second positions in which it closes and opens the through-hole (17), respectively. A third permanent magnet (21) is integral with the auxiliary obturator (22) and a control solenoid (6) is arranged around the path of the main obturator (15) and the auxiliary obturator (21) and is designed to generate a magnetic flux tending to cause the attraction of the main obturator (15) and the auxiliary obturator (22) towards one or other of said first and second openings (11a, 12a). |
| US09970558B1 |
Piston valve with annular passages
A control valve (10) includes a valve body with a plurality of ports (A, B, C, D, E, F) and a plurality of annular flow passages (53, 55, 57). A piston (34) which includes a plurality of annular flow passages and a longitudinal flow passage is selectively movable within a bore (32) within the valve body through operation of a valve controller (70). The valve controller is selectively operative to control the position of the piston so as to enable liquid flow through a plurality of flow paths. The valve controller further includes a installable and removable valve controller housing (74) which is releasibly engageable with a valve base (72). The valve may include a changeable piston and changeable injector and plug components to adapt the valve to different flow and fluid mixing requirements. |
| US09970556B2 |
Directional control valve
In a directional control valve, working fluid to be supplied to a first pressure chamber is supplied to the first pressure chamber via a hydrostatic bearing provided on an end of a main spool on the first pressure chamber side, and working fluid to be supplied to a second pressure chamber is supplied to the second pressure chamber via a hydrostatic bearing provided on an end of the main spool on the second pressure chamber side, and a pilot valve alternately communicates the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber with a tank. |
| US09970552B2 |
One-way pressure activated piston seal
A solenoid actuated valve (10) holds pressure and volume of an accumulator with low leakage and provides low actuation drag during a release stroke for dumping fluid contents of the accumulator at very low current draw. Two elongate valve members (10a, 10b) are assembled to be movable axially relative to one another with a gland or groove (10c) formed in one of the two valve members (10a). An o-ring (12) located within the groove (10c) is in a non-contacting relationship to the other valve member (10b) when in a non-energized state. An energizer ring (14) located within the groove (10c) can reciprocate axially with respect to the o-ring (12). The energizer ring (14) moves axially toward the o-ring (12) in response to fluid pressure against a surface (14a) of the energizer ring (14) opposite from the o-ring (12) to axially compresses the o-ring (12), causing the o-ring (12) to expand radially outwardly into sealing contact with the other valve member (10b). |
| US09970551B2 |
Valve
A valve, which has at least one seal ring arranged in a recess of a valve housing, which seal ring has a seal housing having a U-shaped cross-section, in which seal housing an annular sealing element is arranged. The seal housing has a multi-part design and contains at least one separate housing leg, which is fixed to an annular bottom section of the seal housing in a joining region. The sealing element has a static sealing section, which engages in a sealing groove formed in the bottom section and is suitable for interacting with the two groove flanks of the sealing groove in a sealing manner. |
| US09970536B2 |
Shift device
A shift device is configured including a restriction member and a release section. The restriction member stops a detent pin that has been moved at a release position, restricting movement of a shift lever to a third shift position when the shift lever is moved from a first shift position to a second shift position. When the shift lever has been moved at the second shift position, by the detent pin being moved to the release position from a non-release position, the release section releases the restriction of movement of the shift lever toward the third shift position by the restriction member. |
| US09970534B2 |
Methods and systems for improving the operation of transmissions for motor vehicles
A torque converter check valve has a valve element movable between a closed position and an open position by applying hydraulic pressure to a portion of the valve element and by applying a resilient force by a resilient element acting on another portion of the valve element. A spacer element is provided to act on the valve element and limit movement of the valve element in the direction in which the resilient element is compressed to reduce wear on the resilient element during operation of the torque converter check valve. |
| US09970533B2 |
Solenoid rebuilding method for automatic transmissions
A method of rebuilding a pressure control solenoid includes uncrimping a housing of the solenoid, and disassembling the solenoid. An original spool valve of the solenoid is removed from a hydraulic bore of the solenoid. The hydraulic bore is reamed such that an inner diameter of the bore is enlarged. A replacement spool valve is inserted into the hydraulic bore. An outer diameter of the replacement spool valve is larger than an outer diameter of the original spool valve. |
| US09970532B2 |
Power train controller and associated memory device
A power train subsystem for a motorized vehicle and methods of programming such power train controllers of the power train subsystem are disclosed. The power train subsystem may include a power train component, a controller, and a memory device. The controller may be coupled to the power train component to control operation of the power train component. The memory device may include boot code, application software, standard calibration parameters, and custom calibration parameters. The boot code provides an environment upon which the application software executes per the standard calibration parameters and custom calibration parameters. The standard calibration provides parameters which configure the controller for a range of vehicular applications. The custom calibration parameters provide parameters which configure the controller for a particular vehicular application in the range of vehicular applications. |
| US09970531B2 |
Shift device
In a shift device, a “D” switch, an “N” switch, and an “R” switch are respectively installed to a right installation face, a front installation face, and a rear installation face of an installation body. The “D” switch, the “N” switch, and the “R” switch are separated from each other. This thereby enables easy identification of the positions of the “D” switch, the “N” switch, and the “R” switch, and enables simultaneous press-operation of two out of the “D” switch, the “N” switch, and the “R” switch to be suppressed, thereby enabling incorrect operation of the “D” switch, the “N” switch, and the “R” switch to be suppressed. |
| US09970528B2 |
Transmission system
A transmission system for transmitting a change of speed between two rotating shafts, includes a planetary gear box having a sun gear arranged for rotation with a first shaft travelling at a first speed. Planet gears contained within a ring gear are arranged to orbit the sun gear when the sun gear rotates and the ring gear is in a fixed position. Each planet gear is mounted for rotation on a centrifugal carrier. An output carrier includes a body having arms and the arms are each aligned with an axis of rotation of a planet gear and held to the centrifugal carrier by one or more supports extending in a radial plane. An output shaft extends from the body in coaxial alignment with the input shaft. A connector which is stiff in a radial dimension but flexible under torsional load is arranged between the output carrier and the centrifugal carrier. |
| US09970525B2 |
Coupling assembly with a target element
A coupling assembly comprises a coupling which is arranged between a driving gear and a differential drive; a controllable actuator for actuating the coupling; a sensor for determining switching positions of the coupling; and a target element which cooperates with the sensor, wherein the target element is axially moved upon actuation of the actuator; wherein a first coupling part of the coupling is connected to a differential carrier of the differential drive and wherein a second coupling part of the coupling is held in a rotationally fixed and axially movable way relative to a differential housing of the differential drive, and wherein the target element is secured to the second coupling part by a bayonet-type connection. |
| US09970518B2 |
Driving block for connections
The present invention discloses a driving block for connections, used for connecting with external devices, and sliding on a sliding bracket, wherein, it comprises a connection part, used for connecting with the external device, and a sliding part, applied for sliding connection with the sliding bracket, the connection part is arranged on top of the sliding part, and fixedly connecting to the sliding part. The driving block for connections as provided in the present invention, after connecting to the external device, may achieve the upper and lower positions adjustment of the external devices through worm rotating, and the sliding part may connect to the sliding bracket through the lever, which ensures the stability of the connections. |
| US09970515B2 |
Multi-mode electromechanical variable transmission
A drive system includes a first gear set and a second gear set, each including a sun gear, a ring gear, a plurality of planetary gears coupling the sun gear to the ring gear, and a carrier rotationally supporting the plurality of planetary gears, a first electrical machine directly coupled to the sun gear of the first gear set, a second electrical machine directly coupled to the sun gear of the second gear set, a connecting shaft directly coupling an engine to the ring gear of the first gear set, a driveshaft configured to transport power from the first electrical machine, the second electrical machine, and the engine to a tractive element of the vehicle, and a clutch selectively rotationally coupling the first carrier and the second carrier to the driveshaft when engaged. |
| US09970512B2 |
Planetary gear train of automatic transmission for vehicle
Nine or more forward speeds and one or more reverse speed are achieved by a planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle. The planetary gear train includes: an input shaft, an output shaft, four planetary gear sets, and six control components. In particular, each of the four planetary gear sets includes a sun gear, a planet carrier, and a ring gear. Selective connections between the sun gears, planet carriers, ring gears, and a transmission housing are performed by the the six control components. |
| US09970511B2 |
Planetary gear train of automatic transmission for vehicles
A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle is provided that realizes at least ten forward speeds to improve power delivery performance and fuel consumption due to multi-stages. In particular, the planetary gear train includes an input shaft, an output shaft, four planetary gear sets respectively having three rotational elements, and six control elements for selectively interconnecting the rotational elements and a transmission housing. |
| US09970507B2 |
Anti-vibration apparatus and method of manufacturing anti-vibration apparatus
An anti-vibration apparatus (10) has a bracket (12) that is mounted at a vehicle body (26) (i.e., one of a vibration-generating portion or a vibration-receiving portion), a mounting portion (14) that is mounted at an engine (24) (i.e. the other one of the vibration-generating portion or the vibration-receiving portion), an elastic body (16) that is provided at the mounting portion (14) and is press-inserted into the bracket (12), and that is interposed between the bracket (12) and the mounting portion (14), an auxiliary elastic portion (18) that is provided at the mounting portion (14), and extends in a press-insertion direction of the elastic body (16), a threaded component (52) (i.e., the connector portion (20)) that is provided at the auxiliary elastic portion (18), and a connection-receiving portion (22) that is provided at the bracket (12), and to which the connector portion (20) is connected. |
| US09970505B2 |
Shock absorber
Shock absorber including a suction passage allowing flow only from a reservoir towards a pressure side chamber, a rectifying passage allowing flow only from the pressure side chamber towards an expansion side chamber, and a damping force variable valve allowing flow only from the expansion side chamber towards the reservoir. A large pressure-side pressure chamber communicating with the pressure side chamber, and an outer peripheral expansion-side pressure chamber communicating with the expansion side chamber sandwich a free piston slidably moving within a bottom housing forming a pressure chamber. Because a pressure-side pressure-receiving area of the free piston is larger than an expansion-side pressure-receiving area in a contraction operation in which a piston moves downward, the free piston can move downward even in a uniflow-type shock absorber in which pressure in the expansion side and pressure side chambers become equal whereby damping force can be reduced during an input of high-frequency vibration. |
| US09970499B2 |
Electric linear motion actuator and electric brake system
The electric linear motion actuator includes an electric motor, a drive shaft configured to be rotated by the electric motor, a rotation-to-linear motion converting mechanism configured to convert the rotational motion of the drive shaft to the axial linear motion of an axially movably supported outer ring member, and an electric locking mechanism incorporated in a reduction gear mechanism in which the rotation of a rotor shaft of the electric motor is reduced in speed and transmitted to the drive shaft. When the electric locking mechanism is energized, the power transmission path shifts to the locked state in which power cannot be transmitted, and when the electric locking mechanism is de-energized thereafter, the power transmission path is kept in the locked state. The electric locking mechanism is built in a motor case of the electric motor so that the electric motor and the electric locking mechanism are unitized. |
| US09970495B2 |
Disc brake caliper employing a spring to influence pads acting on the disc of the disc brake
The invention relates to a disc brake caliper (100) comprising: a caliper body (10) placed astride the disc of a disc brake, fitted with a pair of half-bodies (11, 12) connected to each other by means of a first and a second end bridge (20, 21) adapted to delimit a central aperture (22) of the caliper body (10), and by means of a first (13) and a second (14) connection bridge placed astride the disc of the disc brake at such a central aperture (22). The caliper body (10) houses brake pads (2, 3) supported by suspension pins for pads (4, 4′, 5, 5′) arranged in an axial direction (X-X) of the caliper body; said pads have a first side (42) facing the disc of the disc brake connected to an opposite second side (44) by means of a corner (43) facing said central aperture (22). Such a caliper (100) further comprises a first (50) and a second (51) cross-shaped leaf springs to influence the pads (2, 3) in the axial direction (X-X), wherein such a first (50)/second (51) spring is adapted to act between the pads (2, 3) and between the first/second connection bridge (13, 14) and the first/second end bridge (20, 21) of the half-bodies (11, 12). The first (50)/second (51) leaf spring comprises a bow-shaped longitudinal beam (61) having a shaped first end (73) adapted to be removably constrained to the first/second connection bridge (13, 14) and an opposite shaped second end (74) adapted to be removably constrained to the first/second end bridge (20, 21). Wherein each of such first (50) and second (51) leaf springs comprises: a cross beam (62) connected to the longitudinal beam (61) at a central base portion (64) of the spring, to influence the pads (2, 3) at suspension portions of the pads (2, 3) towards the pins (4, 4′, 5, 5′), such a cross beam (62) includes wings (81, 82) projecting from the central base portion (64) of the spring in the axial direction (X-X); each of such wings (81, 82) has a surface (7) facing the disc of the disc brake suitable for resting on the corner (43) of the respective pad (2, 3); each of said wings (81, 82) comprising first means for influencing the pads (8, 83, 84) to influence the second side (44) of the pad (2, 3) by keeping it away from an inner wall (90) of the half-bodies (11, 12); each of such wings (81, 82) comprises second means for influencing the pads (85, 86, 55, 56) to influence the first side (42) of the pad (2, 3) away from the disc in said axial direction (X-X) and to influence such a pad in suspension on the pins (4, 4′, 5, 5′) in a direction (R) orthogonal to said axial direction (X-X) away from said first (13) and second (14) connection bridges. |
| US09970491B2 |
Wedge friction clutch with onboard enable and disable function
A wedge friction clutch with onboard enable and disable function, including: an axis of rotation; an inner race; an outer race located radially outward of the inner race; and a wedge assembly including at least one wedge plate located between the inner and outer races in a radial direction; at least one resilient element; and at least one piston. For a locked mode in which the inner and outer races are non-rotatably connected, the at least one resilient element is arranged to displace the at least one wedge plate in at least one first circumferential direction. For a free wheel mode in which the inner and outer races are independently rotatable with respect to each other, the at least one piston is arranged to displace the at least one wedge plate in at least one second circumferential direction. |
| US09970489B2 |
Synchronizer and transmission
A synchronizer comprising: a hub including splines; a sleeve including internal splines; a transmission gear including external splines; a blocking ring including dog teeth, a notch and a preceding projecting member, wherein after the hub and the transmission gear are synchronized, the preceding projecting member is pressed by the internal splines, and engaged with the external splines before the internal splines. |
| US09970483B2 |
Self-lubricating thermoplastic layers containing PTFE additive having a polymodal molecular weight
A sliding material for gliding elements includes a thermoplastic matrix material and a PTFE additive. The PTFE additive includes at least two different types of PTFE having different molecular weights. |
| US09970482B2 |
Circumferential back-to-back seal assembly with bifurcated flow
A circumferential seal assembly capable of separating a gas into two separate flow paths before communication between a rotatable runner and a pair of seal rings is presented. The seal assembly includes an annular seal housing, a pair of annular seal rings, a rotatable runner, and a plurality of groove structures. The seal housing is interposed between a pair of compartments. The seal rings are separately disposed within the seal housing and separately disposed around the rotatable runner. The groove structures are disposed along an outer annular surface of the rotatable runner. A gas is communicable onto the groove structures. Each groove structure includes at least two hydrodynamic grooves that separate and communicate the gas onto the seal rings. Each groove includes steps whereby the depth of at least one adjoining step decreases in the direction opposite to rotation with or without the depth of another adjoining steps increasing in the direction opposite to rotation. |
| US09970481B1 |
Rotary coating atomizer having vibration damping air bearings
Rotary bell cup atomizing apparatus driven by a turbine mounted on a rotatable motor shaft supported within an air bearing assembly is provided. The air bearing assembly includes a cylindrical main air bearing supporting the motor shaft, a proximal, annular, disk-shaped thrust bearing and a distal, annular, disk-shaped thrust bearing supporting the turbine, and including vibration-damping “O”-rings positioned adjacent the bearings. In operation, air supplied to the apparatus drives the turbine and supports the turbine and motor shaft such that all rotating surfaces of the atomizing apparatus are supported in air, and universal, 3-dimensional vibration damping, both axial and radial, of all rotating components is provided. |
| US09970476B2 |
Crankshaft assembly with core plug and method of manufacturing a crankshaft assembly
A method of manufacturing a crankshaft assembly includes configuring a crankshaft with a crankpin journal having a cavity extending at least partially from a first axial side to a second axial side of the crankpin journal, and opening at at least one of the first axial side and the second axial side. The method includes disposing a core plug in the cavity. The crankshaft has a first density and the core plug may have a second density which may be less than the first density. A crankshaft assembly includes the crankshaft and the core plug. |
| US09970474B2 |
Hook device
An elastic cord terminating in a pair of hook devices, each hook device made from a continuous length of wire. The continuous length of wire at one end has a hook bend having a hook tip, and at the other end a cord attachment. The hook bend and the cord attachment are separated by a straight shank length of the continuous wire into which there is bent a closed finger loop. The finger loop is sized to receive therethrough at least the tip of a finger. The finger loop has a hook proximate surface that is separated longitudinally from the hook tip and toward the cord attachment by a selectable clearance distance. |
| US09970473B2 |
Fastening element
A fastening element with a nut and a thrust washer is provided. The nut includes an interior portion with an internal thread and an abutment surface at one end. A snap edge radially encloses the abutment surface and has a nose edge projecting radially inward, with a chamber being formed between the abutment surface, the snap edge and the nose edge. The thrust washer has an interior recess, a flanged portion and a cylindrical portion, with an outside diameter of the flanged portion being greater than an outside diameter of the cylindrical portion. The flanged portion, the cylindrical portion, the snap edge and the nose edge are coordinated with one another, with the nose edge projecting into the interior of the nut such that the nose edge and the snap edge at least partially enclose the flanged portion of the thrust washer. |
| US09970472B2 |
Torque-indication crush washer
An apparatus comprises a metal washer having an outer circumference, a plurality of cavities formed within the washer, wherein each cavity has an opening that is flush with the outer circumference, an indicator material comprising an inspection lacquer within at least one of the cavities, and a membrane along the outer circumference sealing the inspection lacquer within the cavity. |
| US09970468B2 |
Biased blind side temporary fasteners, systems and methods
Biased blind side fasteners and related methods for temporarily securing together at least two work pieces that each define a hole through which at least a portion of the fastener may pass. Fastener embodiments include an elongate, hollow case for substantially housing a generally cylindrical collet body and a bias element for urging the collet body into the case, and at least partially housing a central rod having a proximal end linked to a proximal portion of the case by a web element and a distal end extending from the case. Such embodiments further include a translatable plunger for temporarily overcoming the urging of the bias element and causing extension of the collet body away from the case, thereby permitting insertion of a fastener into the work pieces' holes, wherein the plunger is formed to substantially translatably pass through the web element. |
| US09970465B2 |
Expansion anchor with an anisotropic coefficient of friction
An expansion anchor including a stud, at least one expansion element, and at least one slanted surface that is arranged on the stud and that pushes the expansion element radially outwards when the stud is moved in a pull-out direction relative to the expansion element is provided. It is provided that the coefficient of friction between the expansion element and the slanted surface is dependent on the direction. |
| US09970455B2 |
Compressor
A compressor includes a housing; an impeller rotatably installed in the housing; a guidance unit connected to the housing at a first end of the guidance unit and configured to guide a fluid discharged by the impeller, the guidance unit configured to change a flow direction; and a scrolling unit connected to a second end opposite to the first end of the guidance unit. A width of an opening via which the fluid enters a circular space of the scrolling unit is about 1.5 to about 3.5 times a height of the guidance unit. |
| US09970454B2 |
Propeller fan, blower device, and outdoor equipment
A propeller fan, including: a boss; and a plurality of blades, each of the plurality of blades including a pressure surface and a suction surface, in which: when a connecting portion between the pressure surface and a side surface of the boss is defined as a pressure surface-side boundary portion, and a connecting portion between the suction surface and the side surface of the boss is defined as a suction surface-side boundary portion, a curvature of the suction surface-side boundary portion is smaller than a curvature of the pressure surface-side boundary portion; and as a blade area projected on a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis, a blade area of the suction surface is larger than a blade area of the pressure surface. |
| US09970452B2 |
Forward-swept impellers and gas turbine engines employing the same
Embodiments of a forward-swept impeller are provide, as are embodiments of a gas turbine engine containing a forward-swept impeller. In one embodiment, the gas turbine engine includes a shaft and a forward-swept impeller mounted to the shaft. The forward-swept impeller includes, in turn, an inboard impeller section, an outboard impeller section circumscribing the inboard impeller section, and a plurality of hub flow paths extending over the forward-swept impeller from the inboard impeller section to the outboard impeller section. The plurality of hub flow paths each have a flow path exit that is tilted in a forward direction, as taken along a line tangent to the flow path exit. |
| US09970451B2 |
Centrifugal compressor having lubricant distribution system
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a bearing of a rotor assembly having a first lubricant flow path configured to flow a first lubricant flow to a first bearing surface of the rotor assembly and a second lubricant flow path separate from the first lubricant flow path and configured to flow a second lubricant flow to a second bearing surface of the rotor assembly. |
| US09970448B2 |
Swirl inducing bearing housing spacer and core
A turbocharger (10) having a bearing housing (14) between a turbine housing and a compressor housing with a shaped core (16) forming an internal oil drain cavity (20) adjacent to a spacer (24) shaped to induce swirling for oil defoaming. A depression (18) in an internal core wall of the bearing housing (14) forms the oil drain cavity (20) with each end (22) of the depression (18) corresponding to a distal end (30) of the spacer (24). The spacer (24) is preferably substantially tubular with a row of oil-flow apertures (32) aligned on each outer span (34) of a recessed center portion (28) to induce swirling. |
| US09970447B2 |
Fuel cell system and method for controlling rotational speed of air compressor
A fuel cell system includes an air compressor that supplies oxidant gas to a fuel cell installed in a fuel cell vehicle, a measured rotational speed acquirer that acquires a measured value of rotational speed of the air compressor, and a controller that calculates a rotational speed command value of the air compressor based on required generated power of the fuel cell, calculates a torque command value of the air compressor based on the calculated rotational speed command value and current rotational speed of the air compressor, and controls rotational speed of the air compressor based on the calculated torque command value. The controller estimates the current rotational speed of the air compressor baaed on the measured value of the rotational speed acquired by the measured rotational speed acquirer and a history of the calculated torque command value, and calculates the torque command value by using the estimated rotational speed. |
| US09970443B2 |
Fan frame and fan assembly with silencing structures
A fan assembly and a fan frame thereof are disclosed. The fan assembly includes a fan frame and an impeller disposed in the fan frame. The fan frame has an air inlet end and an air outlet end, and includes a sidewall, a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion is disposed close to the air inlet end and connected to one end of the sidewall. The bottom portion is disposed close to the air outlet end and connected to the other end of the sidewall. The bottom portion has at least one silencing structure. |
| US09970440B2 |
Screw compressor with adjustable internal volume ratio
A screw compressor is provided having adjustable internal volume ratio, including a body and a male rotor, a female rotor and a slide valve configured inside the body, a groove being configured at one side of the male rotor and the female rotor, and the slide valve being configured inside the groove with the slide valve movable inside the groove from a first position corresponding to a minimum internal volume ratio to a second position corresponding to a maximum internal volume ratio. |
| US09970437B2 |
Two-way pump selectable valve and bypass waste channel
A delivery system for a sensor chip includes a plurality of selectable ports and a two-way pump port selectively connectable to each of the selectable ports. The two-way pump port is configured to allow material to be drawn or delivered from or to the two-way pump port. The delivery system also includes a chamber and a bypass waste channel that is selectively connectable to the two-way pump port. The plurality of selectable ports includes a selectable chamber port connected to the chamber and the chamber has a chamber waste exit. Material may selectively flow through the chamber to a waste collection via the chamber waste exit or flow to the waste collection via the bypass waste channel that bypasses the chamber waste exit. |
| US09970436B2 |
Pulsation-free positive displacement rotary pump
A pump having two pistons placed in a rotor, situated in a stator forming two opposite parallel eccentric pumping chambers having at least one inlet port through which the fluid is drawn into at least one of the pumping chambers during the filling movement of at least one of the pistons and, subsequently, expelled from at least one of the pumping chambers, during the emptying movement of at least one of the pistons, to at least one outlet port, characterized by an inlet cavity in connection with the inlet port, an outlet cavity in connection with the outlet port and two port changeover transition zones situated between each side of the cavities. |
| US09970433B2 |
Enhanced method for controlling a pumping station within a fluid circulation system, related circulation system and pumping station for realizing said method
Method for automatically controlling a pumping station of a fluid circulation system with flowrate control valves, comprising the following control steps which are cyclically repeated: (b) driving said pumping station in accordance with a set curve belonging to a group of predefined driving curves; (c) monitoring over time the variation in flowrate of fluid circulating in the system at the pumping station, or a parameter related thereto; (d) if, during the monitoring step (c), the variation in flowrate exceeds or falls below a control threshold and if said condition is maintained for a stabilization time, (e) modifying the set driving curve, replacing it with another curve from the plurality of driving curves; and (f) reinitializing the monitoring step (c) from a new working point reached by the pumping station. |
| US09970430B2 |
Multi-port metering pump assembly and related methods
A multi-port metering pump assembly includes a manifold coupled to a metering pump. The manifold defines a central passage in fluid communication with a plurality of intermediate passages defined in the manifold. The manifold includes a plurality of outer passages. Each intermediate passage provides fluid communication between the central passage and a corresponding outer passage. A plurality of valves is coupled to the manifold. Each valve of the plurality of valves is located between an intermediate passage and a corresponding outer passage, and is configured to enable or prevent passage of fluid between a corresponding intermediate passage of the plurality of intermediate passages and a corresponding outer passage. The multi-port metering pump assembly also includes an electronic controller coupled to the plurality of valves, the electronic controller having an associated electronic interface and being programmable to selectively and independently open and close the valves of the plurality of valves. |
| US09970428B2 |
Motor driven compressor
A motor-driven compressor includes a metal housing accommodating a compression unit and an electric motor and a resin cover coupled to the housing. The cover and the housing define an accommodation chamber that accommodates a motor driving circuit that drives the electric motor. A metal shield is fixed to the cover and blocks electromagnetic noise. The shield and the cover are stacked together. A sealing member located between the shield and the cover. The sealing member is configured to block entry of foreign matter into the accommodation chamber through a gap between the shield and the cover. |
| US09970427B2 |
Integration of automated cryopump safety purge
A system and method is provided to control a purge valve during an unsafe condition associated with a cryopump. An electronic controller may be used to control the opening and closing of one or more purge valves during the unsafe condition. The purge valve can be a cryo-purge valve or exhaust purge valve. The purge valve can be a normally open valve. The electronic controller can release the normally open valve in response to the unsafe condition. The electronic controller can delay its response to the unsafe condition for a safe period of time. Attempts from other systems to control these valves during unsafe conditions can be preempted during unsafe conditions. A user can be inhibited from manually controlling the purge valve during unsafe conditions. A power failure recovery routine may be initiated in response to a restoration of power. The power failure recovery routine can respond to an unsafe condition even if the power failure recovery routine has been manually turned off by a user. |
| US09970425B2 |
Internal combustion engine provided with a cooling pump that can be mechanically disconnected
An internal combustion engine having: an engine provided with a crankshaft; a cooling system provided with a circulation pump, which comprises an impeller supported by a pump shaft that is mounted so as to rotate around a rotation axis; an auxiliary shaft, which transmits the rotation movement to the pump shaft of the circulation pump; a mechanical transmission, which transmits the rotational movement from the crankshaft to the auxiliary shaft; and a coupling device, which is interposed between the pump shaft of the circulation pump and the auxiliary shaft and is suited to mechanically connect/disconnect the pump shaft to/from the auxiliary shaft. |
| US09970423B2 |
Vacuum battery system for portable microfluidic pumping
A fluidic chip employing a vacuum void to store vacuum potential for controlled micro-fluidic pumping in conjunction with biomimetic vacuum lungs. |
| US09970417B2 |
Wind converter control for weak grid
This disclosure relates to systems and methods for controlling a wind converter for a weak electrical grid. In one embodiment of the disclosure, a system for controlling the wind converter includes a wind converter connected to an electrical grid at a point of connection (POC) and operable to transfer a power to the electrical grid. The system includes a first control loop operable to calculate, based on electrical grid parameters and wind converter characteristics, a voltage reference to be generated by the wind converter. The system includes a second control loop to convert, based on the electrical grid parameters, the voltage reference into a current reference. The second loop converts the angle information of the voltage reference into a voltage at the POC. The system includes a third control to regulate, based at least on the current reference, the power transferred by the wind converter to the electrical grid. |
| US09970412B2 |
Wind turbine blade
A wind turbine blade comprising a fairing with a rigid structural component (12) which forms the majority of the aerodynamic profile and a non-actively controllable elastically deformable trailing edge component (14) mounted on the structural component to complete the aerodynamic profile. The trailing edge component (14) is formed from a material having an elastic modulus in the range of 0.5 to 2.5 GPa such it will elastically buckle when loading on the trailing edge component exceeds a predetermined threshold. The structural component (12) comprises a unidirectional reinforcing layer adjacent to the trailing edge component with at least one layer of unidirectional fibers (26) extending in a substantially spanwise direction. |
| US09970406B2 |
Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engine
An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided which includes a state-of-discharge determiner working to determine whether a center and a ground electrode of a spark plug are electrically conducting with each other or insulated from each other. When the center and ground electrodes are determined to be conducted with each other, the ignition apparatus alters controlled conditions of a high-frequency power supply which supplies a high-frequency power to the spark plug so as to decrease an average of a primary voltage outputted from the high-frequency power supply to the spark plug, thereby reducing an actual current flowing between the center and ground electrodes of the spark plug. This eliminates the risk of mechanical wear of the center and ground electrodes which usually arises from the flow of high current between the center and ground electrodes, thus resulting in an increase in service life of the spark plug. |
| US09970404B2 |
Control apparatus for internal combustion engine
An ECU outputs an ignition signal and a discharge waveform control signal. An ignition device closes an ignition switching element in a period during which the ignition signal is input. After a stop of the input of the ignition signal and in a period of input of the discharge waveform control signal, the ignition device controls current flowing through a primary coil to a discharge current command value that is determined by the discharge waveform control signal by opening or closing a control switching element. A discharge control unit determines whether there is an abnormality. When it is determined that there is an abnormality, the ECU avoids control executed by the discharge control unit, and causes the discharge control unit to execute control during times of low-rotation and low-load operation of an internal combustion engine in order to determine whether the discharge control unit has returned to a normal state. |
| US09970396B2 |
Intake air humidity measurement device for an internal combustion engine
A humidity measuring device includes an apparatus that determines whether or not a water droplet adheres to a surface of a sensor element which detects the humidity, based on changes in humidity and temperature of the intake air. The apparatus calculates a determination value based on a rate of change of the temperature and a rate of change of relative humidity. The apparatus also compares the determination value with a threshold. The apparatus also determines that a water droplet adheres to the surface of the sensor element when a state where the determination value is larger than the threshold continues for a determination time or longer. |
| US09970393B2 |
Method and system for purge control
Methods and systems are provided for purging a fuel vapor canister during conditions when purge vacuum is limited, such as during boosted conditions. An exhaust-driven purge pump is used to flow positive pressure air through a canister, and purge the canister to a compressor inlet. The air is heated during the pressurization, improving hydrocarbon desorption from the canister. |
| US09970390B2 |
Systems and methods for removing coking deposits in a fuel injection system
Methods and systems are provided for reducing coking deposits in a fuel injection system. In one example, a method may comprise humidifying intake air of an intake system of an engine in response to a determination that fuel injector coking is occurring, or after a duration has passed since a most recent humidification event. A humidifying fluid, such as water, may be injected into the intake system to humidify the intake air, and the resulting humidified intake air may reduce and/or remove coking deposits on one or more direct fuel injectors of the fuel injection system. |
| US09970389B2 |
Antivortex device and method of assembling thereof
An antivortex device for use in suppressing formation of a vortex created by fluid flowing through multiple outlet ports defined in a sump is provided. The antivortex device includes a plurality of center plates extending through a central axis of the sump, an extension plate substantially aligned with one of the plurality of center plates and extending substantially radially outward from the central axis, and a top plate coupled to the plurality of center plates. |
| US09970383B2 |
Porous polymer resin layer and method for manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a porous polymer resin layer that comprises a binder resin with pores having a mean maximum diameter of about 0.5 mm to 1.6 mm; and aerogels dispersed in the binder resin. In particular, the porous polymer resin layer has a density of about 0.5 g/ml to 1.6 g/ml. |
| US09970378B2 |
Internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine comprising the fuel injector arranged in the combustion chamber. The primary fuel injection and the secondary fuel injection from the fuel injector are successively performed to cause autoignition of an injected fuel of the primary fuel injection and autoignition of an injected fuel of the secondary fuel injection. A temperature region suppressing change of an ignition delay time where a change of ignition delay time with respect to a rise in temperature in the combustion chamber is suppressed appears in the compression stroke at a temperature in the combustion chamber of 700K to 900K. The secondary fuel injection is performed if the temperature in the combustion chamber is a temperature within the temperature region suppressing change of the ignition delay time during the compression stroke. The primary fuel injection is performed during the compression stroke or suction stroke before the temperature in the combustion chamber reaches a temperature in the temperature region suppressing change of the ignition delay time at a fuel injection timing at which the injected fuel of the secondary fuel injection is autoignited after the injected fuel of the primary fuel injection is autoignited. |
| US09970375B2 |
Device for detecting that fuel shut-off valve is stuck closed
Disclosed is a device for detecting any fixed closure of a fuel shut-off valve 7 which opens/closes a feed line 5 for feed of fuel 3 to a fuel addition valve 6. The device is provided with a pressure sensor 8 which detects a pressure of the fuel 3 between the fuel addition and shut-off valves 6 and 7 and a controller 9 which determines the fuel shut-off valve 7 to be fixed closed when a detection value of the pressure sensor 8 falls below a threshold set depending on a rotation frequency of an engine. |
| US09970374B2 |
Actuator/sensor device
An actuator/sensor device (1) includes: at least one actuator (3) controlled by a control signal and at least one sensor (5) transmitting an acquisition signal, the actuator (3) and the sensor (5) being integrated into the same component; an actuator/sensor pin (8) connecting a terminal of the actuator (3) and an output of the sensor (5) to the same single electrical wire (9) external to the actuator/sensor device (1); and switching elements adapted to cause either the control signal in a control phase (19) or the sensor information in an acquisition phase (21) to be sent on the electrical wire (9). |
| US09970371B2 |
Control apparatus and control method for internal combustion engine
A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine having a limiting current sensor includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to: (i) calculate a parameter relating to SOx contained in a detection subject gas using an output current of the sensor obtained when voltage reduction control is implemented to reduce an applied voltage applied to the sensor from a parameter calculation voltage; and (ii) implement the voltage reduction control when an oxygen concentration of the detection subject gas is less than a predetermined concentration or a low oxygen concentration condition, according to which an oxygen concentration of the detection subject gas is predicted to be less than a predetermined concentration, is established. |
| US09970363B2 |
After-market gaseous fuel and petrol engine conversion system
The invented system adds some petrol fuel to the vehicle engine which runs with natural gas (CNG or LPG). It causes a simultaneous combustion of petrol and natural gas (CNG or LPG). This action decreases depreciation of engine, increases power of the engine and reduces fuel consumption in natural gas vehicles. The above-mentioned system consists of an innovative petrol holder storage, an electronically circuit, a relay, a lever micro switch and a petrol fuel injector. Whenever the accelerator pedal is pressed more than a certain amount, the system will be activated and command to inject petrol collected in the storage into the air manifold. |
| US09970361B2 |
Engine control apparatus
In response to a switching demand from an all-cylinder operation to a reduced-cylinder operation, the amount of air to be taken into each of cylinders 2A to 2D is made larger than the amount of air during the all-cylinder operation in a normal state. Preparatory control of changing the ignition timing of ignition device to a timing on the retard side with respect to the ignition timing during the all-cylinder operation in the normal state is executed. After termination of the preparatory control, the reduced-cylinder operation is started. During execution of the preparatory control, the valve closing timing of an exhaust valve 9 is changed to a timing on the advance side with respect to the valve closing timing thereof during the all-cylinder operation in the normal state so as to reduce the amount of internal EGR gas in at least a part of an operating range C. |
| US09970355B2 |
Impingement cooling arrangement
The present disclosure refers to an impingement cooling arrangement for cooling a duct wall of a duct guiding a hot gas flow. The impingement cooling arrangement includes an impingement sleeve which is at least partly disposed in a compressed air plenum, and spaced at a distance to the duct wall to form a cooling flow path between the duct wall and the impingement sleeve such that cooling air injected from the compressed air plenum through apertures in the sleeve impinges on the duct wall. At least one flow diverter is arranged in the cooling flow path to divert the cross flow away from at least one aperture. Besides the impingement cooling arrangement a gas turbine with such an arrangement as well as a method for cooling a duct wall are provided. |
| US09970354B2 |
Power plant including an ejector and steam generating system via turbine extraction and compressor extraction
A power plant includes a compressor, a combustor downstream from the compressor and a turbine disposed downstream from the combustor. The compressor includes a compressor extraction port. The turbine includes a turbine extraction port that is in fluid communication with a hot gas path of the turbine and which provides a flow path for a stream of combustion gas to flow out of the turbine. An exhaust duct is disposed downstream from the turbine and receives exhaust gas from the turbine. An ejector coupled to the turbine extraction port and to the compressor extraction port cools the stream of combustion gas upstream from the exhaust duct. The cooled combustion gas flows into the exhaust duct at a higher temperature than the exhaust gas and mixes with the exhaust gas within the exhaust duct to provide a heated exhaust gas mixture to a heat exchanger downstream from the exhaust duct. |
| US09970350B2 |
Opposed piston engine with pistons having conical recesses therein
An opposed piston engine includes a cylinder having a cylinder wall, and a pair of opposed pistons, Each face of each piston of the pair of opposed pistons has a top plane and a recess formed therein, each recess comprising a first surface defining part of a cone, the cone defined by the first surface of at least one of the recesses having a longitudinal axis that defines an angle equal to at least one half of a cone angle of the cone with the top plane. |
| US09970346B2 |
Thermoactuator and attachment structure thereof
A thermoactuator easily installed in an object without compromising the operating characteristics of the thermo-element has an element case, containing wax that expands and contracts with changes in temperature; a supporting portion attached at one end to the element case by crimping, slidably supporting a shaft at another end; a cylindrical casing having an opening in one end, at least a portion of the supporting portion pressed through the opening in the one end of the cylindrical casing; and a flange expanding outward from the one end of the cylindrical casing, in which through-holes are formed for mounting the thermoactuator to an object to which the thermoactuator is to be attached. The element case is supported by one end of the supporting portion housed within the object to which the thermoactuator is to be attached and the casing is mounted on the object via the flange. |
| US09970344B2 |
Method of evaluating a soot quantity accumulated in a selective catalytic reduction washcoated particulate filter (SDPF)
A method is disclosed for evaluating a soot quantity accumulated in a Selective Catalytic Reduction wash-coated particulate filter of an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine is equipped with an exhaust gas aftertreatment system including an urea injector. Using a map correlating a urea quantity value, a NOx quantity value, a temperature value and a mass flow value to a correction value of a soot quantity is used to correct an estimated value of the soot quantity in order to obtain an evaluated value of the soot quantity. |
| US09970343B2 |
Exhaust gas purification apparatus for internal combustion engine
The production efficiency of ammonia is more raised while avoiding the necessity for a user to supply water for himself/herself in order to produce the ammonia. An exhaust gas purification apparatus comprises a catalyst which purifies an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine by using ammonia; and an ammonia supplier which supplies the ammonia to the catalyst; wherein the ammonia supplier includes an ammonia producer which produces the ammonia from nitrogen and water; a nitrogen supplier which separates the nitrogen from air and which supplies the nitrogen to the ammonia producer; and a water supplier which separates the water from the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine and which supplies the water to the ammonia producer. |
| US09970338B2 |
System and method for improved gas exchange in cylinder deactivation applications
A cylinder deactivation system includes an intake cam follower assembly, an exhaust cam follower assembly, an exhaust cam, and a controller. The intake cam follower assembly is used to open an intake engine valve and is switchable to operate in one of an active state and a deactive state. The exhaust cam follower assembly is used to open an exhaust engine valve and is switchable to operate in one of a primary lift state and a secondary lift state. The exhaust cam includes a primary lift cam lobe and a secondary lift cam lobe and is used to actuate the exhaust cam follower assembly in the primary lift state and in the secondary lift state. The controller is used to open the exhaust engine valve during the deactive combustion cycle in advance of the opening of the intake engine valve that occurs during the subsequent active combustion cycle. |
| US09970337B2 |
Actuator for valves in internal combustion engines
An actuator for a valve in an internal combustion engine includes a housing, an electric drive unit arranged in an interior of the housing, an aeration opening arranged in the housing, a plug configured to electrically connect the electric drive unit to a voltage source, and a membrane comprising pores. The membrane is configured to close the aeration opening in the housing. |
| US09970332B2 |
Sliding CAM recovery from short to ground on actuator low side
An engine control module includes at least one high side driver connected to at least one intake camshaft actuator and at least one exhaust camshaft actuator. A plurality of low side drivers is connected to the at least one intake camshaft actuator and the at least one exhaust camshaft actuator. A sliding camshaft control module selectively actuates the at least one high side driver and the plurality of low side drivers based on a status associated with the at least one intake camshaft actuator and/or the at least one exhaust camshaft actuator. |
| US09970331B1 |
Arrangements for outboard marine engines having reduced width
An outboard marine engine comprises a vertically aligned bank of piston-cylinders; an intake camshaft that operates a plurality of intake valves for controlling inflow of air to the bank of piston-cylinders; an exhaust camshaft that operates a plurality of exhaust valves for controlling outflow of exhaust as from the bank of piston-cylinders; and a cam-to-cam connector that connects the intake camshaft to the exhaust camshaft such that rotation of one of the intake and exhaust camshafts causes rotation of the other of the intake and exhaust camshafts. The cam-to-cam connector is located vertically above a lowermost intake valve in the plurality of intake valves, vertically above a lowermost exhaust valve in the plurality of exhaust valves, vertically below an uppermost intake valve in the plurality of intake valves and vertically below an uppermost exhaust valve in the plurality of exhaust valves. |
| US09970325B2 |
Jacking assembly for rotor
A jacking assembly for a rotor of a turbine includes an arc-shaped saddle which extends around and supports a lower portion of a rotor. A lifting beam extends over the rotor transversely to an axial direction of the rotor. The lifting beam is axially aligned with the arc-shaped saddle. Two connectors are disposed on respective lateral sides of the rotor, each connector extending between and being coupled to the lifting beam and the arc-shaped saddle such that the saddle is configured to lift the rotor vertically when the lifting beam is displaced vertically. |
| US09970322B2 |
Engine mounting system
A mounting system for a gas turbine engine includes a low pressure turbine section, a first bearing, a mid-turbine frame, and a rear mount. The first bearing supports at least a portion of the low pressure turbine section. The mid-turbine frame supports the first bearing. The rear mount is connected to the mid-turbine frame and is configured to react loads from the gas turbine engine. |
| US09970320B2 |
Exhaust housing hub for a turbomachine
An exhaust housing hub of a turbomachine, including a connecting wall and an inner channel wall, the connecting wall connecting the inner channel wall to inner attachment flanges, wherein a radial section of the connecting wall is curved and can be formed, as required, as a single component with the inner channel wall, the hub also including a series of ribs extending radially between the connecting wall and the inner channel wall. |
| US09970318B2 |
Shroud segment and method of manufacturing
A method of manufacturing a shroud segment, including separately molding at least first and second parts by powder injection molding. The first part has an inner surface and at least one fluid passage in communication with the inner surface. The second part has an outer surface complementary to the inner surface of the first part. At least one of the inner and outer surfaces is formed to define a plurality of grooves. A plurality of cooling passages in fluid communication with the at least one fluid passage are defined with the plurality of grooves by interconnecting the inner and outer surfaces while the first and second parts remain in a green state. The interconnected parts are debound and sintered to fuse the parts to define at least a portion of the shroud segment including the cooling passages. |
| US09970317B2 |
Vane assembly for a gas turbine engine
A vane assembly for a gas turbine engine is disclosed in this paper. The vane assembly includes an inner platform, an outer platform, and a ceramic-containing airfoil. The ceramic-containing airfoil extends from the inner platform to the outer platform. A clamp mechanism couples the inner platform and the outer platform to the ceramic-containing airfoil. |
| US09970314B2 |
Inner ring for forming a guide blade ring, and guide blade ring and turbomachine
An inner ring for forming a guide blade ring for a turbomachine is disclosed, composed of at least two one-part ring segments having a plurality of openings, closed on the peripheral side, for accommodating journal bearings on the blade side, the outer diameter of the inner ring being at least 12 times larger than its height. Also disclosed are a guide blade ring having this type of inner ring and a turbomachine having this type of guide blade ring. |
| US09970313B2 |
Unison ring assembly
A unison ring assembly comprises a backing plate, and a plurality of pocket-forming portions. The backing plate is formed as an annular disc, with the annular disc being planar in a radial plane of the unison ring assembly. The plurality of pocket-forming portions are equi-spaced circumferentially around the axis of the unison ring assembly, and each of the plurality of pocket-forming portions is attached to the backing plate to form a corresponding radially extending pocket. |
| US09970312B2 |
Temperature management for throttle loss recovery systems
Systems and methods are provided for managing temperatures associated with a throttle loss recovery system. One exemplary system includes a flow control assembly for recovering energy from a fluid bypassing a flow control valve based on an orientation of the flow control valve, a conduit providing fluid communication with the flow control assembly for the portion of the fluid flow bypassing the flow control valve, and an electronics assembly including an electronics module coupled to the flow control assembly. At least a portion of the electronics assembly is in fluid communication with the portion of the fluid flow bypassing the flow control valve, thereby allowing for heat transfer between the electronics assembly and the fluid bypassing the flow control valve. |
| US09970309B2 |
Method for producing a rotor of a charging apparatus
A method of producing a rotor of a charging apparatus may include the steps of providing at least one compressor wheel and a turbine wheel. The compressor wheel and the turbine wheel may each include a bearing section having a radial bearing surface at a longitudinal end for mounting a bearing housing. At least one of the radial bearing surfaces may include a radial oversizing corresponding to a rotationally asymmetric geometry between at least the bearing section of the compressor wheel and the bearing section of the turbine wheel. The method may include the step of assembling the compressor wheel, the turbine wheel and each bearing section together to form a unitary structure, and machining the at least one of the radial bearing surfaces to reduce the respective radial oversizing until each of the radial bearing surfaces are rotationally symmetrical with respect to each other. |
| US09970307B2 |
Turbine nozzles with slip joints impregnated by oxidation-resistant sealing material and methods for the production thereof
Embodiments of a turbine nozzle having slip joints impregnated by an oxidation-resistant sealing material are provided, as are embodiments of methods for the manufacture of turbine nozzles. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a support ring, a slip joint ring substantially concentric with the support ring and radially spaced apart therefrom, and a plurality of vanes fixedly coupled to the support ring. The plurality of vanes extends radially from the support ring into a plurality of circumferentially-spaced slots provided in the slip joint ring to form a plurality of slip joints therewith. The plurality of slip joints are impregnated with a silicon-modified aluminide sealing material. The silicon-modified aluminide sealing material impedes gas flow into the radial slip joints during operation of the turbine nozzle, while also fracturing to permit relative radial movement between the plurality of vanes and the slip joint ring along the plurality of slip joints. |
| US09970306B2 |
Fluid dynamic machine with one or more impellers with restrained control mobile blades
A turbomachine, comprising a housing, at least two blade wheels rotatably accommodated by the housing, at least two rotatably arranged blades, which are evenly distributed along a circle of the at least two blade wheels and mounted with an axle parallel to the axis of the corresponding blade wheel. According to the invention, each blade axle is connected to an adjusting element, which can be displaced relative to the shaft of the second blade wheel via a four bar link, which lies in a plane perpendicular to the blade axle and consists mainly of a square arm that is fixed to the axle of the blades, wherein a square arm is articulated to the bottom of the blade wheel, whereas the other end is connected to the end of the first square arm via a connecting axle. |
| US09970302B2 |
Hot gas path component trailing edge having near wall cooling features
A hot gas path component includes a substrate having an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface defines an interior space. The outer surface defines a pressure side surface and a suction side surface. The pressure and suction side surfaces are joined together at a leading edge and at a trailing edge. A first cooling passage is formed in the suction side surface of the substrate. It is coupled in flow communication to the interior space. A second cooling passage, separate from the first cooling passage, is formed in the pressure side surface. The second cooling passage is coupled in flow communication to the interior space. A cover is disposed over at least a portion of the first and second cooling passages. The interior space channels a cooling fluid to the first and second cooling passages, which channel the cooling fluid therethrough to remove heat from the component. |
| US09970300B2 |
Brush design for propeller deicing system
A propeller assembly is provided including a plurality of blades arranged in diametrically opposed pairs. Each of the plurality of blades has an electrical deicer located thereon. The propeller assembly also includes a slip ring, and a stationary brush arranged in contact with the slip ring. The brush is configured to transfer electrical power from a power source to the slip ring. A movable portion of an actuator is configured to sequentially couple the electrical deicers of each pair of blades to the rotating slip ring. |
| US09970295B2 |
Engine assembly with turbine support casing
An engine assembly having an internal combustion engine, a turbine module including a turbine casing, a support casing rigidly connecting the turbine casing to a remainder of the assembly, and an inlet scroll connected to the turbine casing without any direct rigid connection to the support casing. The inlet scroll includes an inlet pipe for each engine exhaust port. An exhaust pipe is provided for each exhaust port, connected to and providing fluid communication between the respective exhaust port and inlet pipe. The exhaust pipe is movable relative to at least one of the exhaust port and the inlet pipe at a corresponding connection therewith. One of the exhaust and inlet pipes floatingly extends through an opening defined in the support casing. The assembly may be a compound engine assembly. |
| US09970294B2 |
Shockwave rotor detonation (omni-engine, ubiquitous X engine) multipurpose engine
This is an engine that uses combustion pressures and shock waves to provide moment about an axis on a rotor producing a torque. This engine is a torque driven power plant which can be used for a variety of energy applications. At the core of this engine is a large diameter right cylinder that uses internal vectored combustion to rotate a shaft that can be attached to various mechanisms for use in diverse applications. This engine can be scaled to be various sizes with the functionality of the engine unaffected. This engine has a unique internal rotational-recoil disk (piston head type) that rotates in a circle making it extremely efficient. This engine has directional intake valves and removes the exhaust through the center of the rotation-recoil disk. |
| US09970293B2 |
Liquid ring rotating casing steam turbine and method of use thereof
A rotating liquid ring rotating casing gas turbine (10) has at least one liquid ring rotating casing (13) having an eccentrically mounted impeller (11) adapted to rotate within a surrounding liquid ring (14) so as to form chambers (15) of successively increasing volume between adjacent vanes of the impeller. A working fluid formed by high pressure gas is injected into the impeller where the chambers are narrow via a fluid inlet (19) within a static axial bore (23) of the impeller so as to rotate the impeller and in so doing the gas expands isentropically. A fluid outlet (20) within the static axial bore of the impeller and fluidly separated from the fluid inlet allows the working fluid to escape at low pressure and low temperature. |
| US09970292B2 |
Drilling apparatus
A drilling apparatus including a drill is disclosed for use with a mine roof bolter. The apparatus includes a support adapted to rotate the drill about two different axes. The first axis may be a vertical axis and the second axis may be a horizontal axis. The drilling apparatus includes a mast for supporting the drill and allowing relative movement of the drill with respect to the mast. The drilling apparatus additionally includes an element for longitudinally moving the mast with respect to the support. The drilling apparatus may further include a mesh aligner for aligning the mesh with respect to the drill. A drill guide with a small footprint may also be included which is capable retracting within a housing to avoid interference with a face of the mine when positioning the drilling apparatus. |
| US09970291B2 |
Fill fence system and method for installing same
A method of installing a fill fence system at a predetermined location to at least partially cover an opening defined by a back, a floor, and side walls. The method includes providing a carrier system including a carrier assembly, locating the carrier assembly in a safe zone adjacent to the unsafe zone, and positioning an assembled fill fence assembly on the carrier assembly. The carrier assembly and the full fence assembly are moved to a preselected location. With the carrier assembly at the preselected location, the fill fence assembly is positioned at the predetermined location, and installed at least partially to cover the opening. The carrier assembly is disengaged from the fill fence assembly and removed from the preselected location. The fill fence system includes a securing element is applied to help secure the fill fence assembly in the opening. |
| US09970290B2 |
Borehole logging methods and apparatus
A method utilized in borehole logging, such as in surveying or exploration relating to a subsurface formation. The method includes deploying a logging instrument that includes a pressure sensor into a borehole drilled into the formation. The method includes the steps of obtaining a first pressure value at a first depth in the borehole, obtaining at least one further pressure value subsequent to the first pressure value during withdrawing or advancing the logging instrument in the borehole, and determining one or more characteristics of the subsurface formation, utilizing at least one of the further pressure values, or a change in pressure (Δρ) between the first pressure value and a said further pressure value or values, or a change in pressure (Δρ) between a said further pressure value and another said further pressure value, or a combination of two or more of such values. |
| US09970283B2 |
Recovery from a hydrocarbon reservoir
Methods and apparatus for recovering heavy oil from subterranean reservoirs. A steam-utilizing heavy oil recovery process may be used to recover the heavy oil while employing a steam-solvent mixture. The solvent may be a tailored hydrocarbon solvent obtained from a precursor mixture of hydrocarbon compounds from which light end hydrocarbon compounds have been removed. |
| US09970282B2 |
Recovery from a hydrocarbon reservoir
Methods and apparatus for recovering heavy oil from subterranean reservoirs. A steam-utilizing heavy oil recovery process may be used to recover the heavy oil while employing a steam-solvent mixture. The solvent may be a tailored hydrocarbon solvent obtained from a precursor mixture of hydrocarbon compounds from which light end hydrocarbon compounds have been removed. |
| US09970279B2 |
Apparatus and methods for inhibiting a screen-out condition in a subterranean well fracturing operation
A subterranean well fracturing system comprises a downhole well string having installed therein initially closed upstream and downstream sliding sleeve valve assemblies each openable to provide fracing fluid discharge outlets through well string side ports to an associated subterranean fracing zone. To inhibit an undesirable screen-out condition during formation fracturing, specially designed apparatus and methods are operative to sequentially (1) block the downstream valve seat, (2) open the blocked downstream valve seat using pressurized fracing fluid, (3) partially block the upstream valve seat, (4) open the partially blocked upstream valve seat using pressurized fracing fluid, a portion of which is flowed through the partially blocked upstream valve seat, and then (5) unblock the partially blocked upstream valve seat to permit a full flow of pressurized fracing fluid therethrough. In this manner, pressurized fracing fluid is simultaneously delivered to two fracing zones to inhibit a screen-out condition in the well string. |
| US09970276B2 |
System and method for dry fracture shale energy extraction
A system and method are provided that use RF energy to enhance the extraction of oil and gas from hydrocarbon bearing strata. A three-dimensional underground electromagnetic array is used to guide RF energy to where that energy is converted to heat in the hydrocarbon bearing strata. The three dimensional underground electromagnetic array is a guided wave structure, as opposed to an antenna structure, to minimize the unwanted effects of the near fields associated with antennas. In one embodiment, the legs of the three-dimensional underground electromagnetic array are composed of production well pipe. |
| US09970275B2 |
Em and combustion stimulation of heavy oil
A method of producing heavy oil from a heavy oil formation by combining electromagnetic heating to achieve fluid communication between wells, following by in situ combustion to mobilize and upgrade the heavy oil. |
| US09970274B2 |
Wellbore treatment apparatus and method
A method for wellbore treatment includes running a liner into a wellbore, the liner including a wall, an inner bore defined by the wall, a first port through the wall, a second port though the wall spaced axially from the first port, a first removable closure for the first port and a second removable closure for the second port; positioning the liner in an open hole section of the wellbore to create an annulus between the liner and a portion of the wellbore wall and with the second port downhole of the first port; inserting a treatment string assembly into the liner, the treatment string assembly including a tubing string and an annular seal about the tubing string and being insertable into the inner bore of the liner; setting the annular seal to create a seal between the tubing string and the liner downhole of the second port; and while the first port is closed to fluid flow therethrough, pumping wellbore treatment fluid into an annular area between the tubing string and the liner such that the fluid passes through the second port and into the annulus to treat the open hole section of the wellbore adjacent the second port. The treatment string assembly may further include a port-opening tool and a fluid communication port permitting fluid communication between the tubing string outer surface and a fluid conduit through the tubing string adjacent an upper side of the annular seal. |
| US09970272B2 |
Oil pressure regulator for electrical submersible pump motor
An electrical submersible pump assembly has a pump driven by a motor. A pressure compensator has first and second bellows units axially separated from each other. Each of the first and second bellows units are movable between an increased volume position and a decreased volume position and have a bias toward the decreased volume position. The bias of the first bellows unit is greater than the bias of the second bellows unit. The greater bias of the first bellows unit over the second bellows unit causes the second bellows unit to be at a full volume position at a lower level of the pressure differential than the level at which the first bellows unit is at the full volume position. |
| US09970270B2 |
Movable combined sand control pipe of axial and radial slotted screen pipes
A sand control screen pipe includes couplings, movable spacer bushes, an outer movable radial slotted screen pipe, a split supporting ring and an inner axial slotted screen pipe. In downhole sand control construction work, a movable combined sand control pipe of axial and radial slotted screen pipes is required to be aligned with an oil layer position, this sand control screen pipe adopts the outer radial slotted screen pipe and the inner axial slotted screen pipe for blocking sand, and the outer radial slotted screen pipe can carry out limited axial movement along the inner axial slotted screen pipe and free rotational motion around the axial line of the inner axial slotted screen pipe, so that the controlled sand can be effectively prevented from hardening and an oil leakage channel is kept smooth for a long time to improve the production efficiency of an oil well. |
| US09970268B2 |
Apparatus and methods for oriented-fracturing of formations
In one aspect, an apparatus for treating a formation is disclosed that in one non-limiting embodiment includes a first string for placement in the wellbore that includes a first flow port that enables a treatment fluid to flow from inside the first string to the formation via an annulus between the first string and the formation, a second string for placement in the first string, wherein the second string includes a second flow port that supplies the treatment fluid to the first flow port along a selected radial orientation to direct the treatment fluid in the selected radial direction. |
| US09970259B2 |
Dump valve arrangement for fracturing tool set
A dump valve arrangement for a fracking tool coupled to a length of coil tubing includes an axially displaceable inner mandrel which cooperates with a valve arrangement to allow for releasing fracturing fluid through the central bore of a fracturing tool to an outlet port positioned at the bottom of the tool string. Displacement of the inner mandrel is effected as a result of the normal sequence of operation of the fracturing tool set. |
| US09970258B2 |
Remotely operated stage cementing methods for liner drilling installations
A method of using a liner assembly comprises inserting the liner assembly into a wellbore, the liner assembly having an annular packer and a port collar. The method further comprises closing fluid flow through a lower end of the liner assembly, actuating the annular packer into engagement with the wellbore, and actuating the port collar into an open position to open fluid communication between an interior of the liner assembly and the wellbore. The method further comprises pumping cement into the wellbore through the port collar at a location above the annular packer and actuating the port collar into a closed position to close fluid communication between the interior of the liner assembly and the wellbore. |
| US09970253B2 |
Downhole cutter tool
A downhole tool mechanism for applying a driving force, such as a cutter tool for cutting a line captured within the tool, comprises a resiliently compressible member for storing a compressive force; a retaining device for maintaining storage of the compressive force until released; a trigger mechanism for releasing the compressive force when the trigger mechanism is activated. In one form the resiliently compressible member comprises a plurality of concentrically arranged spring washers each having a radial slot therein for receiving a line along the length of the resiliently compressible member. In the cutter form, there is a cutter arranged to cut the line when the trigger mechanism is activated, and the trigger mechanism is activated when the tool receives a shock force to one or both ends. |
| US09970251B2 |
Telemetry operated setting tool
A setting tool for hanging a tubular string includes: a mandrel having an upper portion and a lower portion for extending into the tubular string; a housing connected to the mandrel upper portion; and a bonnet. The bonnet is: for receiving an upper end of the tubular string, disposed along the mandrel, and linked to the housing. The setting tool further includes: an actuator for stroking the bonnet relative to the mandrel and the housing, thereby setting a hanger of the tubular string; an electronics package in communication with the actuator for operating the actuator in response to receiving a command signal; and a latch. The latch is: connected to the mandrel lower portion, operable between an extended position and a retracted position, for being restrained in the retracted position by being disposed in the tubular string, and extendable by being removed from the tubular string. |
| US09970246B2 |
Triggered heating of wellbore fluids by carbon nanomaterials
A method of triggering heating within a subterranean formation, that includes introducting a wellbore fluid containing a dispersed carbon nanomaterial into a wellbore through the subterranean formation; lowering a microwave or ultraviolet radiation source into the wellbore; and irradiating the wellbore with microwave or ultraviolet radiation, thereby increasing the temperature of the wellbore fluid and/or wellbore is disclosed. |
| US09970244B1 |
Accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device
An accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device having a base, a pivoting hydraulic cylinder with a stationary wrench and a pivoting wrench. A hydraulic control assembly controls hydraulic cylinder operation and has a manifold with input port for receiving hydraulic fluid from a reservoir and an output port for transferring hydraulic fluid to the reservoir. The manifold can have a first bidirectional control port to flow hydraulic fluid to and from a first pivoting hydraulic cylinder port and a second bidirectional control port to flow hydraulic fluid to and from a second pivoting hydraulic cylinder port. The manifold has a lever, which movably changes hydraulic fluid flow rates to the pivoting hydraulic cylinder and interfaces with a primary pressure adjustment valve. |
| US09970242B2 |
Galling resistant drill pipe tool joint and corresponding drill pipe
Disclosed herein are embodiments of a drill pipe tool joint and a drill pipe which are optimized for repeated make-up/break-out operations without the use of screw grease. Embodiments of the disclosure are environment friendly as well as having improved operating efficiency. In particular, the box and pin can be formed from different materials having different hardness. |
| US09970239B2 |
Drill bits including retractable pads, cartridges including retractable pads for such drill bits, and related methods
An earth-boring tool may comprise at least one cavity formed in a face thereof. At least one retractable pad residing in the at least one cavity may be coupled to a piston located at least partially within the at least one cavity. Additionally, a valve may be positioned within the earth-boring tool and configured to regulate flow of an incompressible fluid in contact with the piston through an opening of a reservoir. A cartridge may comprise a barrel wall defining a first bore, and a piston comprising at least one retractable pad positioned at least partially within the first bore. The barrel wall and the piston may define a first reservoir within the first bore, and a valve may be positioned and configured to regulate flow through an opening to the first reservoir. Related methods and devices are also disclosed. |
| US09970238B2 |
Method in putting together of a down-the-hole drilling apparatus and a down-the-hole drilling apparatus
A method for assembling a down-the-hole drilling apparatus including a drilling device including a casing and a drilling unit arranged during drilling in connection with the casing. The drilling unit includes a drilling head including a drilling arrangement including a first drilling member for drilling a center hole and a second drilling member for reaming the center hole. The drilling members are mutually power transmittingly coupled during drilling to cooperate for rotational, feeding and/or hammering, and removably coupled to enable removal of the first drilling member from a hole. The casing is arranged to be pulled into the hole through a shoulder arranged at an end of the casing. At an opposite end of the drilling arrangement with respect to a drilling surface, is arranged a skirt including a radial internal shoulder for pulling the casing into the hole by cooperation of the internal shoulder and an external shoulder at the end of the casing. |
| US09970237B2 |
Steerable earth boring assembly
A steerable earth boring assembly which includes an annular collar and a drive shaft with a drill bit, where the shaft pivots with respect to the collar. An upper portion of the shaft inserts into an orientation sleeve which resides in the collar. An axial bore is obliquely formed through the sleeve, and in which the upper portion inserts. Rotating the sleeve causes precession of the upper portion, thereby pivoting the drill bit obliquely to the collar. Selective rotation of the sleeve orients the drill bit into a designated orientation for forming a deviated wellbore. Included in the assembly is a flow tube with an end in sealing contact with the drive shaft. |
| US09970235B2 |
Rotary steerable drilling system for drilling a borehole in an earth formation
A bottom hole assembly for drilling a deviated wellbore is provided. The bottom hole assembly includes a drill bit and a connected rotary steerable drilling system, or RSS. The RSS includes one or more orientation sensors, a steering unit configured to direct a force through the drill bit and against a rock formation, control electronics designed to send control signals to the steering unit, and power electronics. The steering unit transforms electrical power to linear displacement and force using linear actuators acting off-center to the longitudinal axis of the drill string. |
| US09970232B2 |
Mountable cover, blind and / or shade for a window or skylight
A mountable cover provides a shade or blind for a window and/or skylight. The mountable cover comprises a mounting frame having a top wall, side walls and a bottom wall adapted to be removably mounted within a window frame structure housing a window. The mounting frame is appointed to abut and sit flush against the window frame structure. Additionally, the mountable cover comprises a panel located within the mounting frame comprising a material adapted to interface with solar properties traversing the window and sit parallel to the window. The mountable cover further comprises fastening means appointed to engage with the window frame structure for mounting and removing the mounting frame from the window frame structure. Windows suitable for the mountable cover include a vast array of window structures, elevated windows, and skylights. |
| US09970226B2 |
Vehicle window assembly
A window assembly is disclosed for a vehicle having a window regulator rail and a window carrier configured to shift along the window regulator rail. The window assembly includes a glass panel having a mounting end and a clip assembly fixed to the mounting end of the glass panel. The clip assembly is configured to be fixed to the window carrier and includes a clip body defined by a first end configured to engage the window carrier and an opposing second end defining a channel. The clip assembly also includes a retainer arranged in the channel and configured to accept and position the glass panel mounting end inside the channel. The clip assembly additionally includes an adhesive configured to fill the channel and cure therein after the mounting end of the glass panel has been positioned inside the channel. A vehicle door having such a window assembly is also disclosed. |
| US09970224B2 |
Hinge assembly for an insulated glass door
The hinge assembly comprises a housing for mounting on a cabinet and a post member for mounting on a door and for rotation relative to the housing. A first electrical contact is mounted within the housing for connection to a source of electrical power in the cabinet and a second electrical contact is disposed in the post in electrical contact with the first contact for connection to an electrical appliance in the door. In one embodiment, the electrical contacts rotate relative to each other as the post member pivots on the housing while in other embodiments; the electrical contacts remain stationary relative to each other as the post member pivots on the housing. |
| US09970222B1 |
Compliant hinge for membrane-like structures
A compliant hinge for deployable membrane-like structures and other applications is provided. The compliant hinge generally includes a flexible intermediate portion having one or more enclosed contours connected by inner longitudinal segments along a longitudinal axis of symmetry. The enclosed contours are resiliently deformable in response to an in-plane load, including tension and shear forces. The compliant hinge allows for rotation, bending, and extension, and can interconnect rigid panels in tensioned precision structures and other applications. |
| US09970212B2 |
Shade and clamp device
Disclosed herein are device and system for providing shade including: a) a deformable screen assembly having a border about its edge, the screen assembly including: i) a support frame defining the edge of the screen assembly, and ii) a screen component having at least two apertures for receiving an adjustable arm, the apertures being contained within the screen assembly edge; and; b) an adjustable arm. Also disclosed herein are devices for clamping an object. |
| US09970206B1 |
Roof plug
A roof plug is provided that includes a plug member and a tray member. The tray member includes a recessed portion and a flange portion and is made of a rigid material. The recessed portion includes a base, has at least one opening disposed therein, and has a plurality of side walls each extending upwardly from the base to the flange portion. The flange portion is also oriented outward from a top edge of the plurality of side walls of the recessed portion. The plug member fits into the recessed portion of the tray member. At least one opening in the base provides visual inspection of the plug member when located in the recessed portion. The product serves to plug a hole left behind by a static roof vent when converting to other methods of roof ventilation. Generally, the product can be used to fill any holes in the roof deck sized 8″×8″ or 12″×12″. |
| US09970205B2 |
Carpet removal tool
A tool for removing carpet from a floor. The carpet removal tool includes a panel having an elongated opening thereon. Opposing ends of the panel include handles pivotally affixed thereto to be grasped by one or more users, wherein the handles can be positioned parallel to or perpendicular to the panel. In operation, the user cuts a portion of the carpet to be removed and secures the end of the carpet within the elongated opening on the panel. The user then pulls using the handle so that the carpet wraps around the panel as it is removed from the floor. The carpet can be manually wrapped around the panel by the user. |
| US09970202B2 |
Molding structure
A molding structure and associated method includes a baseboard and a seal. The baseboard has a front surface, a back surface opposite the front surface, and a bottom surface extending between the front and back surfaces, the back surface configured to be mounted against a wall, the bottom surface configured to be positioned spaced apart from a floor adjoining the wall. The seal is mounted on the bottom surface of the baseboard and configured so that, when the molding structure is installed at a wall, the seal is compressed between the baseboard and a floor. The baseboard can include a channel along the bottom surface of the baseboard, and the seal can include a flange receivable in the channel to mount the seal to the baseboard. When the molding structure is installed, the baseboard can be separated from the floor and the seal can prevent flow of air between the baseboard and the floor. |
| US09970201B2 |
Inside corner backer board molding insert
An inside corner backer board molding insert is provided. The molding insert includes a body formed by a rigid member. An arcuate portion disposed on a front side of the body extends longitudinally from an upper face to a lower face of the body. The arcuate portion defines a concave surface extending laterally from a first longitudinal edge to a second longitudinal edge. A pair of laterally extending walls extend perpendicularly relative to each other and intersect forming a corner edge disposed on a rear side of the body. The corner edge forms a right angle sized to engage an inside corner of a wall. Opposing sides of the body interconnect the arcuate portion to the laterally extending walls and include a width sized to receive a backer board flush thereagainst. A lip extending outwardly from and edge of the opposing sides provides a support surface for the backer board. |
| US09970199B2 |
Floorboard, system and method for forming a flooring, and a flooring formed thereof
A method of producing floor panels is disclosed. The method includes the steps of separating a sheet formed surface material into surface strips and gluing said surface strips to a core with a space between the surface strips. A method of producing floor panels, wherein the method includes the steps of: separating a sheet formed surface layer material into surface strips; and gluing the surface strips to a sheet of core material to be cut into a plurality of floor panels, and providing a space between the surface strips, and cutting the sheet of core material, at the space, into at least two individual floor panels, forming a mechanical locking system in the sheet of core material at the space. |
| US09970198B2 |
Floor covering, floor panels for forming such floor covering, and method for realizing such floor panels
Floor covering, consisting of hard panels, with a laminated structure, whereby at least at the upper surface a printed decorative layer with a wood pattern is present, with thereupon a transparent layer of synthetic material in which impressions are formed, wherein the impressions substantially follow the wood pattern. |
| US09970197B2 |
Multi-element roofing or siding panel
A multi-element panel system configured for attachment to a mounting surface includes at least two panels. The panels each have an upper portion oriented upward and a lower portion oriented downward, relative to the mounting surface. A plurality of faces are formed on the panels and a plurality of keyways are formed between the faces. The keyways are recessed toward the mounting surface from the faces. The panels have a water trough, which has a planar intersection with the faces, formed on an exterior side of the upper portion, and a water channel extending between the upper and lower portions of one side of the panel. The panels have a side lap extending between the upper and lower portions on the opposite side of the panel from the water channel. The side lap of one of the panels overlaps the water channel of another, horizontally adjacent, panel. |
| US09970194B2 |
Apparatus and method for manufacturing insulated wall panels
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for manufacturing unitary insulated wall panels, wherein the panels form a cavity for receiving expandable foam insulation, and form integral attachment means for attaching the panel to a building wall system. Unitary foam insulated panels having integral attachment means are further provided. |
| US09970192B2 |
Multifunctional panel system and attachment means
The instant system is a panel made of several layers that is a highly decorative, fire resistant, water resistant, sound proof, R valued insulated, light weight, and energy efficient panel. Such layers include: glass fiber reinforced concrete, glass fiber reinforced concrete with alkaline resistant fibers, alkaline resistant hurricane tested scrim mesh, a solar powered radiant tubing, a fire resistant foam that contains a steel reinforcement, and an epoxy adhesive. |
| US09970187B2 |
Rimless toilet pan and a method of flushing same
A rimless toilet pan (20) including a forward end (F), a rearward end (R), a pan bowl (28), a flushing outlet (32), a flushing water inlet (30), an inwardly facing first sidewall (34), an inwardly facing second sidewall (37) and a flushing water flow splitter (38). The flushing outlet (32) is in fluid communication with the pan bowl (28). The flushing water inlet (30) is in fluid communication with the pan bowl (28). The inwardly facing first sidewall (34) extends substantially around the top of the pan bowl (28). The substantially horizontal ledge (36) extends substantially around the bottom of the first sidewall (34). The inwardly facing second sidewall (37) extends substantially around the pan bowl (28) under the horizontal ledge (36). The flushing water flow splitter (38) is substantially adjacent a rearward end of the first sidewall (34), is in fluid communication with the flushing water inlet (30) and has a leftwards outlet (38a) and a rightwards outlet (38b). The flushing water flow balancer (40) is on a frontwards part of the first sidewall (34), includes an inwardly facing projection (40a/b/c) extending vertically through at least part of the height of the first sidewall (34) and is positioned substantially symmetrically in relation to a forward to rearward centerline (42) of the toilet pan (28). |
| US09970183B2 |
Flushing assembly
A flushing assembly comprising a foundation and a heat exchanging member. The foundation comprises a bowl shape providing an envelope surface defining an upper inlet and a lower outlet, the lower outlet being arranged to communicate with a drainage. The heat exchanging member comprises a helical channel defined between an upper and a lower wall, the helical channel having an extension along the envelope surface of the bowl shaped foundation, and the helical channel being arranged to be provided with a through flow of a secondary fluid. The flushing assembly is configured to provide a helical channel for a primary fluid extending between the envelope surface of the foundation and the lower wall of the heat exchanging member for guiding the primary fluid there through from the upper inlet to the lower outlet towards the drainage, thereby allowing heat exchange between the primary fluid and the secondary fluid. |
| US09970179B2 |
Tipping indicator for a work vehicle
A work vehicle includes a frame assembly and an attachment assembly. The attachment assembly has an attachment end pivotally connected to the frame assembly and a distal end configured for receiving a variable load. At least one force sensor senses at least one force associated with the attachment end. The at least one force sensor provides an output signal representing the sensed at least one force. An inclination sensor senses an inclination associated with the frame assembly and provides an output signal representing the sensed inclination. An electrical processing circuit is configured for receiving the output signal from the at least one force sensor, determining a value of a couple at the frame assembly which is associated with the sensed at least one force, comparing the couple with a threshold value which is dependent on the sensed inclination, and controlling the controllable output dependent on the comparison. |
| US09970178B2 |
Construction machine
A construction machine includes an earth removing implement 20 including: a blade 22 disposed on a base portion frame 21 by using a linkage mechanism 23 and a cylinder 24; a fixed cover 26 positioned above the linkage mechanism 23; a movable cover 27 covering a gap between the fixed cover 26 and the blade 22; and a guide pin 25 that guides the movable cover 27 while the blade 22 is being raised. The movable cover 27 includes a side surface portion 52 having a slot 54 with which the guide pin 25 engages. The slot 54 is formed along the side surface portion 52 that faces the guide pin 25. The guide pin 25 engages with the slot 54 at a lower end position therein when the blade 22 is raised to a highest position as the movable cover 27 is rotated to follow the fixed cover 26. |
| US09970177B2 |
Quick coupler having spring applied, hydraulically released primary and secondary lock members mounted on same cross shaft
A quick coupler primary lock arrangement includes a fore-and-aft guided wedge arrangement carried by a cross shaft and is biased forwardly to a lock position by a first spring arrangement, and includes a secondary lock arrangement includes a locking pawl arrangement pivotally mounted to the cross shaft and biased, by a second spring arrangement, to a secondary lock position wherein the pawl arrangement includes a surface disposed in a confronting locking disposition relative to an abutment surface of a fixed plate of the coupler to thereby prevent rearward movement of the wedge arrangement from the lock position. A normally depressurized hydraulic cylinder is coupled to the pawl arrangement and when selectively pressurized overcomes spring biasing forces and pivots the pawl arrangement from the secondary locking position and then shifts the wedge arrangement rearward to a coupler release position. An electro-hydraulic control arrangement prevents unintentional operation of the hydraulic cylinder. |
| US09970176B2 |
Utility loader with high lift loader arms and unifying hand grip for dual traction control levers
A compact utility loader is operated by a standing operator at the rear of a frame. A loader arm assembly comprises a scissors linkage on either side of the frame nesting around the prime mover. Each scissors linkage has an upper loader arm that is pivoted at its rear end to rears ends of a pair of lower loader arms such that the pivot connections to the upper loader arm move upwardly and forwardly relative to the frame during elevation of the loader arm assembly to provide a high lift capability. The frame is self-propelled by a differential drive and steering system that is operated by dual levers. A hand grip extends between and unifies the operation of the levers to permit the operator to more easily move the levers in the ways that are needed to provide either straight motion of the frame or turns of the frame. |
| US09970174B2 |
Silencer for silencing pile driving into the bed of a body of water, and pile driving system and method
A silencer for silencing the driving of piles into the bed of a body of water is configured to fit around a pile, and has a first tube; a second tube inserted inside and spaced apart from the first tube, both the first and second tube being longer than the depth of the bed of the body of water on which they are to rest; and a bottom wall, which is joined hermetically to respective ends of the first and second tube to form a gap between the first and second tube, and is configured to rest on the bed of the body of water. |
| US09970169B2 |
Flood defense barrier
The present invention provides a flood defense barrier comprising a first plurality of individual compartments connected by a first, non-releasable fastening means, wherein the plurality of individual compartments comprises at least one second, releasable, fastening means effective for releasably fastening the first plurality of individual compartments to a second plurality of individual compartments. Also provided is a flood defense barrier comprising a first plurality of individual compartments connected together and provided with a continuous length of water impermeable material extending across the individual compartments along at least one side of the barrier, a second plurality of individual compartments connected together and provided with a continuous length of water impermeable material extending across the individual compartments along at least one side of the barrier, and fastening means for fastening the first plurality of individual compartments to the second plurality of individual compartments, as well as methods of deploying said flood defense barrier and uses thereof. |
| US09970167B1 |
Sweeper and frame for UTV
An improved sweeper and frame for a utility task vehicle includes a mounting frame which is attachable/detachable to the rear portion of the vehicle allowing detachment/attachment of the box portion of the vehicle as needed. The utility task vehicle mounting frame may be coupled with a lifting system to allow hydraulic aided dumping of the debris collection box of the sweeper system. |
| US09970162B2 |
Textile run and use thereof
A textile run with a slide surface (1, 51) consisting of looped fabric, the looped fabric comprising loops (4, 54) which are formed of warp threads by weaving or of pile threads by tufting and have a height (3, 53) of between at least 3 mm and at most 10 mm, 100 to 950 loops being disposed over an area of 1 dm 2. The invention further concerns the use of the textile run. |
| US09970161B2 |
Rail vibration absorber
Disclosed is a rail vibration absorber, comprising an elastic element (4), a mass (3) and at least one coupling frame (2). The coupling frame (2) has the same surface shape as a non-working surface coupling portion of a steel rail. The coupling frame (2) comprises at least one vibration absorption cavity (100). The mass (3) is at least partially disposed in the vibration absorption cavity (100) of the coupling frame (2). The elastic element (4) is arranged between the mass (3) and a wall of the vibration absorption cavity (100). The rail vibration absorber has a simple structure, stable performance and good weatherability, and can effectively slow wear to the steel rail and prolong the service life thereof. |
| US09970154B1 |
Apparatus, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium thereof for deciding a target control data set of a fabric dyeing process
An apparatus, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium thereof for deciding a target control data set of a fabric dyeing process are provided. The apparatus decides a plurality of determination factors of a dyeing quality-related model according to a plurality of control factors corresponding to a plurality of historical control data set and calculates a coefficient corresponding to each of the determination factors. The apparatus further calculates the target control data set that minimizes a dyeing target-related model according to a control condition set, wherein the control condition set includes a predetermined range of the dyeing quality-related model and a predetermined range of each control factor. |
| US09970148B2 |
Household appliance having a physical alteration element
A household appliance for treating at least one item according to at least one cycle of operation includes a treating chamber for receiving the at least one item for treatment according to the at least one cycle of operation, a treating chemistry dispenser receiving a unit dose container having an electrically conductive element, a physical alteration element located proximate to the treating chemistry dispenser and operable to physically alter at least a portion of the electrically conductive element and a sensor for sensing the physical alteration. |
| US09970141B2 |
Apparatus and method for washing an elongate textile article
Apparatus and method for washing an elongate textile article of extended indeterminate length utilizes a containment structure defining a channel extending upwardly from a lower end to an upper end thereof, with a plurality of undulations spaced-apart from one another within the channel between the lower and upper ends thereof, each undulation extending transversely across the channel. A portion of the lengthwise extent of the traveling textile article is advanced transiently within the channel upwardly from the lower end to the upward end and across the undulations, while a substantially continuous supply of cleansing liquid enters the channel at the upper end to flow downwardly against the upwardly traveling portion of the textile article for cleansing thereof. |
| US09970139B2 |
Microfibrous product and the use thereof for the preparation of covers and cases
The invention refers to a process for the preparation of a microfibrous non-woven fabric based on polyester or polyamide microfibers immersed in a polyurethane matrix, and having a thickness equal to or less than 0.65 mm, a flat or slightly mottled appearance and a nap length of less than 350 μm. The non-woven fabric is used for the preparation of coverings for consumer goods, particularly for the preparation of covers and cases for electronic products. |
| US09970138B2 |
Method of converting a glass fibre fabric material and products obtained by the method
In order to recycle glass fiber/fiber fabric production waste material, such as a material used in the manufacturing of rotor blades for wind turbines, and preferably where the material is bendable or flexible and reinforced in a plurality of layers in one or more directions in planes that are parallel with the surface of the material and stitch bonded together, the material is mechanically processed involving a size reduction of the material into shorter fiber length, in order to convert the material into one or more substantial pure glass fiber products. In this way it is possible inter alia to further process the material and create materials such as acoustic insulation wool, and chopped glass fiber strands. |
| US09970136B2 |
Apparatus and method for joining loops of a tubular knitted article
A loop joining apparatus is for joining loops of a tubular knitted article, and includes a reed unit and two loop holding units. The reed unit includes a first reed including a plurality of first reed teeth, and a second reed including a plurality of second reed teeth. The first and second reeds are pivotable relative to each other about a folding axis to transform between an expanded state and a stacked state. Each of the loop holding units holds at least one of two adjacent ones of the loops that are positioned closest to and symmetrical about the folding axis, to retain the at least one of the two adjacent ones of the loops on a corresponding one of the first and second reed teeth when the reed unit is transformed to the stacked state. |
| US09970135B2 |
Knitting spool
A knitting spool for knitting comprising a tubular body having a through hole; a plurality of yarn retention members mounted at an end face of the tubular body; wherein the tubular body is formed of two parts detachable along a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body. |
| US09970134B2 |
Method of simultaneously knitting opposing sides of an article of footwear
A method of knitting a knitted component for an article of footwear includes performing a pass of at least one yarn feeder along a longitudinal axis relative to first and second needle beds of a knitting machine. The method includes feeding at least one yarn with the at least one feeder during the pass. The method also includes forming, during the pass, a plurality of first loops with the first needles to define a first portion of the knitted component. The method further includes forming, during the pass, a plurality of second loops with the second needles to define a second portion of the knitted component. The first portion defines a medial side of an upper for the article of footwear. Additionally, the second portion defines a lateral side of the upper for the article of footwear. |
| US09970124B2 |
Single crystal production apparatus and single crystal production method
A single crystal production apparatus (and a single crystal production method) is configured to produce a single crystal by approaching a raw material M gripped by a raw material grip portion, and a seed crystal S gripped by a seed crystal grip portion by disposing the raw material grip portion and the seed crystal grip portion mutually in a vertical direction and approaching both of them each other, and forming a melting zone M1 by making a portion melted by heating the raw material M by a heating part in contact with the seed crystal S, and cooling the melting zone, wherein the heating part has an infrared generating part, and the seed crystal grip portion is disposed at a vertically top position, and the raw material grip portion is disposed at a vertically bottom position. |
| US09970122B2 |
Use of a disulfide/dithiol compound in a seal for anodized aluminum
Provided is a method for sealing an article with a non-chrome corrosion inhibitor seal. The method may include applying an aqueous-based suspension comprising a thiol-containing corrosion inhibitor on a surface of an anodized substrate. |
| US09970120B2 |
Porous, flow-through consumable anodes for use in selective electroplating
A method for electrodepositing a coating/free-standing layer on a workpiece in an electrolytic cell includes moving the workpiece and an anode applicator tool having a consumable anode insert relative to each other; anodically dissolving a metal from the insert and cathodically depositing the metal on the workpiece; providing flow of electrolyte solution through the insert to ensure that greater than 90% of the anodic reaction is represented by dissolution of the metal; recirculating collected electrolyte solution exiting the electrolytic cell through the insert; applying an electric current to the electrolytic cell; maintaining a concentration of the anodically dissolved metal within ±25% of each Ampere-hour per liter of electroplating solution; and creating a cathodic electrodeposit on the workpiece which includes the anodically dissolved metal, the chemical composition of the deposit varying by less than 25% in the deposition direction over a selected thickness of up to 25 microns of the deposit. |
| US09970119B2 |
Curved grating structure manufacturing method, curved grating structure, grating unit, and x-ray imaging device
In one aspect, the present invention provides a curved grating structure manufacturing method which comprises: a grating forming step of forming, in one surface of a grating-forming workpiece, a grating region in which a plurality of members mutually having the same shape are periodically provided; a stress layer forming step of forming a stress layer capable of generating stress, on a grating plane-defining surface of the grating region; a boding step of bonding a support substrate to the stress layer; a polishing step of polishing the other surface of the grating-forming workpiece on a side opposite to the one surface having the support substrate bonded thereto; and a peeling step of peeling off the support substrate from the stress layer, wherein the polishing step includes performing the polishing to allow the grating-forming workpiece to be curved by a stress arising from the stress layer, after the peeling step. |
| US09970117B2 |
Heterocycle catalyzed electrochemical process
A method for heterocycle catalyzed electrochemical reduction of a carbonyl compound is disclosed. The method generally includes steps (A) to (C). Step (A) may introduce the carbonyl compound into a solution of an electrolyte and a heterocycle catalyst in a divided electrochemical cell. The divided electrochemical cell may include an anode in a first cell compartment and a cathode in a second cell compartment. The cathode generally reduces the carbonyl compound to at least one aldehyde compound. Step (B) may vary which of the aldehyde compounds is produced by adjusting one or more of (i) a cathode material, (ii) the electrolyte, (iii) the heterocycle catalyst, (iv) a pH level and (v) an electrical potential. Step (C) may separate the aldehyde compounds from the solution. |
| US09970116B2 |
Al-plated steel sheet used for hot pressing and method for manufacturing Al-plated steel sheet used for hot pressing
Provided is an Al-plated steel sheet used for hot pressing that has excellent lubricity in hot state, corrosion resistance after paint coating, and spot weldability. An Al-plated steel sheet used for hot pressing includes: a steel sheet; an Al plating layer formed on one surface or both surfaces of the steel sheet; and a surface coating layer formed on the Al plating layer. The surface coating layer contains a zinc compound, and the zinc compound is deposited on the Al-plated steel sheet in an amount of equal to or greater than 0.3 g/m2 and equal to or less than 1.5 g/m2 as an amount of metallic zinc per one surface, and a zinc deposition amount in any continuous 1 mm2 region is 1.5 g/m2 or less. |
| US09970115B2 |
Metal pretreatment composition containing zirconium, copper, zinc, and nitrate and related coatings on metal substrates
A pretreatment composition for metal that provides enhanced corrosion resistance, enhanced paint adhesion and reduced chip damage to a wide variety of metal substrates. The pretreatment is also cleaner because it is based on zirconium rather than zinc phosphates. The pretreatment coating composition in use preferably comprises 50 to 300 parts per million (ppm) zirconium, 0 to 100 ppm of SiO2, 150-2000 ppm of total fluorine and 10-100 ppm of free fluorine, 150 to 10000 ppm of zinc and 10 to 10000 ppm of an oxidizing agent and has a pH of 3.0 to 5.0, preferably about 4.0. The coating composition can optionally include 0 to 50 ppm of copper. The suitable oxidizing agents can be selected from a large group. |
| US09970113B2 |
Method for coating metallic surfaces with nanocrystalline zinc oxide layers, aqueous compositions therefor and use of the surfaces coated in this way
A method for coating metallic surfaces with an aqueous composition, which contains an aqueous solution of a zinc salt, by flooding, spraying and/or immersion, wherein, for spraying or immersion, the initial temperature of the substrate lies in the range from 5 to 400° C., in that, for flooding, the initial temperature of the substrate lies in the range from 100 to 400° C. and in that an anticorrosive nanocrystalline zinc oxide layer is formed on the metallic surface. Corresponding aqueous composition, the nanocrystalline zinc oxide layer and the use of the coated substrates are also disclosed. |
| US09970108B2 |
Systems and methods for vapor delivery in a substrate processing system
A vapor delivery system includes an ampoule to store liquid precursor and a heater to partially vaporize the liquid precursor. A first valve communicates with a push gas source and the ampoule. A second valve supplies vaporized precursor to a heated injection manifold. A valve manifold includes a first node in fluid communication with an outlet of the heated injection manifold, a third valve having an inlet in fluid communication with the first node and an outlet in fluid communication with vacuum, a fourth valve having an inlet in fluid communication with the first node and an outlet in fluid communication with a second node, a fifth valve having an outlet in fluid communication with the second node, and a sixth valve having an outlet in fluid communication with the second node. A gas distribution device is in fluid communication with the second node. |
| US09970106B2 |
CVD system having particle separator
The invention relates to a device for coating substrates in a process chamber (8) of a reactor housing (1), having a gas inlet member (11) for introducing process gases into the process chamber (8), having a gas outlet member (10) for discharging an exhaust gas stream from the process chamber (8) into a particle filter (4), which is disposed in a particle separator housing (3) and has a porous filter medium (16) for out-filtering particles from the exhaust gas stream, which form during a reaction of the process gases. In order to improve the filtering performance of a particle filter at a CVD or PVD device and to specify a suitable particle filter for this intended purpose, the invention suggests that the pore size and the surface quality of the filter medium (16) are selected in such a manner that the particles located in the exhaust gas stream adhere to the surface of the filter medium (16), however do not penetrate the filter medium (16), and the particles grow to conglomerates outside of the filter medium (16), and a mass acceleration device is provided for cleaning the particle filter (4) by mechanically removing the conglomerates. |
| US09970105B2 |
Method for sealing processing module
Embodiments of method for cooling a wafer are provided. A method for cooling a wafer includes placing the wafer in a processing module via a passage of a seat member. The method also includes moving a closure member toward the seat member in a diagonal manner. The method further includes engaging the seat member and the closure member and placing a portion of the closure member inside the passage. In addition, the method includes performing a process on the wafer in the processing module. |
| US09970104B2 |
Coated tool
Provided is a coated tool exhibiting enhanced wear resistance and adhesiveness of an aluminum oxide layer and superior wear resistance and defect resistance. A cutting tool (1) in which at least a titanium carbonitride layer (8) and an aluminum oxide layer (10) having an α-type crystalline structure are laminated in that order on a surface of a substrate (5). A surface-side Tc(116) in a surface-side peak is greater than a substrate-side Tc(116) in a substrate-side peak where Tc(116) is an orientation factor of the aluminum oxide layer (10) when comparing the substrate-side peak detected by measuring a portion on a substrate (5) side of the aluminum oxide layer (10) and the surface-side peak detected by measuring a portion on a surface side of the aluminum oxide layer (10) in X-ray diffraction analysis of the aluminum oxide layer (10). |
| US09970100B2 |
Interlayer composite substrates
An interlayer configured for a composite substrate surface, the interlayer having a higher concentration of at least one first chemical element at the interface of the substrate surface and the innermost interlayer surface and a higher concentration of at least one second chemical element at the outermost interlayer surface is disclosed. Methods of forming the interlayer and providing functional properties to said composites are disclosed. |
| US09970099B2 |
Sputtering target for magnetic recording medium, and process for producing same
A sputtering target for a magnetic recording medium, wherein an average grain area of a B-rich phase is 90 μm2 or less. A process for producing a sputtering target for a magnetic recording medium, wherein an alloy cast ingot is subject to heat treatment, thereafter subject to primary rolling which includes at least one pass of cold rolling, thereafter subject to secondary rolling, and machined to prepare a target. The obtained sputtering target for a magnetic recording medium has few cracks in the B-rich phase and has a high leakage flux density, and by using this target, it is possible to stabilize the discharge during sputtering, suppress arcing which occurs from cracks in the B-rich phase, and suppress the generation of particles. |
| US09970097B2 |
Rotary evaporation source apparatus for OLED evaporation
The present disclosure discloses a rotary evaporation source apparatus for OLED evaporation, comprising a crucible for containing evaporation material, an evaporation source body for heating the crucible, a rotary disk for rotating the crucible, and a driving source member for driving the rotary disk to rotate; wherein the evaporation source body is provided with a receiving space for receiving the crucible therein, a through hole is disposed on the rotary disk, the rotary disk is movably laid over the evaporation source body, the crucible passes through the through hole disposed on the rotary disk and is placed in the receiving space, the crucible and the rotary disk are disposed in a relatively stationary manner; the driving source member is disposed at outside of the evaporation source body and drives the rotary disk to rotate about a central axis of the evaporation source body, the crucible rotates about the central axis of the evaporation source body along with the rotary disk. |
| US09970095B2 |
Ion assisted deposition top coat of rare-earth oxide
A method of manufacturing an article comprises providing an article. An ion assisted deposition (IAD) process is performed to deposit a second protective layer over a first protective layer. The second protective layer is a plasma resistant rare earth oxide having a thickness of less than 50 microns and a porosity of less than 1%. The second protective layer seals a plurality of cracks and pores of the first protective layer. |
| US09970093B2 |
Method for gas carbonitriding
A method of forming a wear protection layer for a machine component that forms a slide pairing with a further machine component includes gas-carbonitriding at least one of the machine components in order to minimize wear. The gas-carbonitriding includes forming a thin uniform bonding layer and a comparatively thick diffusion layer thereunder. The gas-carbonitriding is performed at a low temperature and for a long duration. |
| US09970091B2 |
Method for producing two-phase Ni—Cr—Mo alloys
In a method for making a wrought nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloy having homogeneous, two-phase microstructures the alloy in ingot form is subjected to a homogenization treatment at a temperature between 2025° F. and 2100° F., and then hot worked at start temperature between 2025° F. and 2100° F. The alloy preferably contains 18.47 to 20.78 wt. % chromium, 19.24 to 20.87 wt. % molybdenum, 0.08 to 0.62 wt. % aluminum, less than 0.76 wt. % manganese, less than 2.10 wt. % iron, less than 0.56 wt. % copper, less than 0.14 wt. % silicon, up to 0.17 wt. % titanium, less than 0.013 wt. % carbon, and the balance nickel. |
| US09970089B2 |
Nickel-chromium-phosphorous brazing alloys
Disclosed is the semi-amorphous, ductile brazing foil with composition consisting essentially of NibalCraBbPcSidMoeFef with approximately 24 atomic percent≤a≤approximately 31 atomic percent; b≤approximately 3 atomic percent; approximately 9 atomic percent≤c≤approximately 11 atomic percent; approximately 2 atomic percent≤d≤approximately 4 atomic percent; e≤approximately 2 atomic percent; f≤approximately 1 atomic percent; and the balance being Ni and other impurities; where b+c+d |
| US09970080B2 |
Micro-alloying to mitigate the slight discoloration resulting from entrained metal in anodized aluminum surface finishes
Micro additions of certain elements such as zirconium or titanium are added to high strength aluminum alloys to counter discoloring effects of other micro-alloying elements when the high strength alloys are anodized. The other micro-alloying elements are added to increase the adhesion of an anodic film to the aluminum alloy substrate. However, these micro-alloying elements can also cause slight discoloration, such as a yellowing, of the anodic film. Such micro-alloying elements that can cause discoloration can include copper, manganese, iron and silver. The micro additions of additional elements, such as one or more of zirconium, tantalum, molybdenum, hafnium, tungsten, vanadium, niobium and tantalum, can dilute the discoloration of the micro-alloying elements. The resulting anodic films are substantially colorless. |
| US09970079B2 |
Methods for constructing parts using metallic glass alloys, and metallic glass alloy materials for use therewith
Described herein are methods of constructing a three-dimensional part using metallic glass alloys, layer by layer, as well as metallic glass-forming materials designed for use therewith. In certain embodiments, a layer of metallic glass-forming powder or a sheet of metallic glass material is deposited to selected positions and then fused to a layer below by suitable methods such as laser heating or electron beam heating. The deposition and fusing are then repeated as need to construct the part, layer by layer. One or more sections or layers of non-metallic glass material can be included as needed to form composite parts. In one embodiment, the metallic glass-forming powder is a homogenous atomized powder. In another embodiment, the metallic glass-forming powder is formed by melting a metallic glass alloy to an over-heat threshold temperature substantially above the Tliquidus of the alloy, and quenching the melt at a high cooling rate such that the cooling material is kept substantially amorphous during cooling to form the metallic glass. In various embodiments, the melt is atomized during cooling to form the metallic glass-forming powder. |
| US09970078B2 |
Method for producing a solid scandium-containing material of enhanced scandium content
A method for producing a solid scandium-containing material comprises providing an aqueous solution containing carbonate ions, carbamate ions, hydrogen carbonate (HCO3+) ions, or mixtures thereof, contacting the aqueous solution with a scandium containing material containing one or more impurities to produce a scandium-loaded solution and a depleted scandium containing material, separating the depleted scandium containing material from the scandium loaded solution, treating the scandium loaded solution to cause precipitation of a solid scandium-containing material while avoiding or minimizing precipitation of impurities present in the aqueous solution, and separating the solid scandium-containing material from the solution. In another embodiment, a high purity scandium containing is produced by contacting a solid material containing scandium with an acid to form a scandium loaded solution, separating the scandium loaded solution from any solids, adding additional acid to the scandium loaded solution to reduce the pH and precipitating a high purity scandium oxalate material by adding oxalic acid to the solution. |
| US09970074B2 |
Cold-rolled steel sheet, galvanized cold-rolled steel sheet and method of manufacturing the same
A cold-rolled steel sheet includes a predetermined chemical composition, and includes a structure expressed by: an area fraction of ferrite: 95% or more; an area fraction of retained austenite and an area fraction of martensite: 1% to 3% in total; a product of the area fraction of retained austenite and a carbon concentration in retained austenite: 1 or more; a value of I(111)/{I(100)+I(110)} at a region where a depth from a surface is ¼ of a thickness of the cold-rolled steel sheet when intensity of a (hkl) plane is expressed by I(hkl): 2 or less. |
| US09970072B2 |
High-strength spring steel wire with excellent hydrogen embrittlement resistance, manufacturing process therefor, and high-strength spring
A high-strength spring steel wire is provided which secures excellent hydrogen embrittlement resistance even when the adding amount of alloy elements is suppressed, and has 80 area % or more of tempered martensite and 1,900 MPa or more of the tensile strength, in which a predetermined chemical composition is satisfied, with C and Si satisfying the relation of the expression (1) below, with prior austenite grain size number being No. 10 or more, and with the hydrogen absorption amount being 14.0 ppm or more. 0.73%≤[C]+[Si]/8≤0.90% (1) where [C] and [Si] express the content (mass %) of C and Si respectively. |
| US09970070B2 |
Chrome-free leather retanning
A method for forming chrome-free retanned leather including: (a) contacting wet white with from 1% to 8%, by solids weight, based on the wet weight of wet white, retanning agent selected from the group consisting of: i) an aqueous emulsion polymer including, as copolymerized units, from 2% to 35%, by weight, based on the weight of the emulsion polymer, ethylenically-unsaturated monomer bearing at least one epoxy group, the emulsion polymer having a weight average molecular weight of from 2,000 to 100,000; ii) a compound selected from the group comprising piperazine, piperazine hydrates, salts of piperazine, and combinations thereof; and iii) combinations of i) and ii); (b) heating the contacted wet white; and (c) drying the contacted, heated wet white is provided. The present application also relates to chrome-free retanned leather formed by the method of the invention. |
| US09970068B2 |
Primers and probes for the amplification and detection of HIV GAG, REV and NEF polynucleotides
The invention relates to improved methods and compositions for the nucleic acid amplification of one or multiple variants (strains) of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) present in a sample, and preferably in a sample from a pathogen infected individual. In particular, novel primers, methods and kits for the amplification of one or more species of HIV Rev, Gag and Nef nucleic acids are provided. The amplified HIV nucleic acid can be used to identify and/or quantitate HIV variants present in a sample. Nucleic acids produced by the methods of the invention or the proteins encoded thereby can also be used directly as vaccines or to transfect/load antigen presenting cells. The loaded antigen presenting cells can be used as a vaccine for the treatment or prevention of HIV infection. |
| US09970066B2 |
Method of detecting Coccidioides species
The present technology provides methods and kits that may be used to detect and quantify the presence of Coccidioides species. The methods include quantification real-time PCR assays, and the kits and compositions include oligonucleotides used as primers and probes. |
| US09970065B2 |
Real-time PCR assay for detection of Babesia microti and clinical utilization in diagnosis and treatment of babesiosis
Methods and kits are provided for detecting Babesia microti using real-time polymerase chain reaction. |
| US09970062B2 |
Compositions and methods for detection of mycobacterium tuberculosis
Method for the rapid detection of the presence or absence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and other members of the MTB-complex in a biological or non-biological sample are described. The methods can include performing an amplifying step, a hybridizing step, and a detecting step. Furthermore, primers, probes targeting the esxJ gene, along with kits are provided that are designed for the detection of MTB. |
| US09970058B2 |
Digital amplification
The identification of pre-defined mutations expected to be present in a minor fraction of a cell population is important for a variety of basic research and clinical applications. The exponential, analog nature of the polymerase chain reaction is transformed into a linear, digital signal suitable for this purpose. Single molecules can be isolated by dilution and individually amplified; each product is then separately analyzed for the presence of pre-defined mutations. The process provides a reliable and quantitative measure of the proportion of variant sequences within a DNA sample. |
| US09970057B2 |
Human invasion signature for prognosis of metastatic risk
Methods and products are provided for determining if a subject having a tumor is (i) at risk of metastasis of the tumor, or (ii) at risk of recurrence of the tumor after treatment of the tumor. Methods of treatment of cancer, tumors and metastasis are also provided. |
| US09970052B2 |
Digital assays with a generic reporter
Digital assay system, including methods, apparatus, and compositions, for assay of one or more targets in a set of partitions containing a generic reporter of target amplification. |
| US09970049B2 |
Use of modular nucleic acid scaffolds to create nanoscale energy harvesting and focusing arrays
The invention relates to a nanoscale antenna including a nucleic acid scaffold having a structure selected from the group consisting of a Holliday junction, a star, and a dendrimer; and a plurality of fluorophores attached to the scaffold and configured as a FRET cascade comprising at least three different types of fluorophores, arranged with (a) a plurality of initial donor fluorophores fixed in exterior positions on the structure, (b) a terminal acceptor fluorophore fixed in a central position on the structure, and (c) a plurality of intermediate fluorophores fixed in positions on the scaffold between the initial acceptor fluorophores and the terminal acceptor fluorophores. |
| US09970045B2 |
Cellular analysis of body fluids
Herein is provided a simple, reliable and accurate method for cellular analysis on hematology analyzers. In various aspects, the methods provide separation and/or differentiation between red blood cells (RBCs) and white blood cells (WBCs) by utilizing a fluorescent dye to selectively stain WBCs such that they emit stronger fluorescence signals. The method provides optimal detection limits on WBCs and RBCs, thereby allowing analysis of samples with sparse cellular concentrations. As few as one reagent may be used to prepare a single dilution for body fluid analysis, in order to simplify the body fluid analysis. Minimal damage to WBCs is attained using the lysis-free approach described in aspects of the disclosure. |
| US09970036B2 |
Generation of acyl amino acids
Engineered polypeptides useful in synthesizing acyl amino acids are provided. Also provided are methods of making acyl amino acids using engineered polypeptides. |
| US09970029B1 |
Engineered nucleic acid-targeting nucleic acids
The present disclosure provides engineered polynucleotide sequences that form scaffolds and nucleoprotein complexes comprising such engineered polynucleotide sequences that form scaffolds and nucleic acid binding proteins. Nucleic acid sequences encoding the engineered polynucleotide sequences that form scaffolds, as well as expression cassettes, vectors and cells comprising such polynucleotide sequences, are described. A variety of methods for making and using the engineered polynucleotide sequences that form scaffolds are also disclosed. |
| US09970020B2 |
Plant with reduced protein productivity in seeds and method for producing same
According to the present invention, a gene having a novel function that can cause an increase or decrease in seed protein content is searched for. A chimeric protein obtained by fusing a transcription factor consisting of a protein comprising an amino acid sequence shown in any of the even-numbered SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 76 and a functional peptide capable of converting an arbitrary transcription factor into a transcriptional repressor or a transcription factor consisting of a protein comprising an amino acid sequence shown in any of the even-numbered SEQ ID NOS: 77 to 84 is expressed in a plant. |
| US09970019B2 |
Regulatory nucleic acid molecules for enhancing seed-specific and/or seed-preferential gene expression in plants
The present invention is in the field of plant molecular biology and provides methods for production of high expressing seed-specific and/or seed-preferential promoters and the production of plants with enhanced seed-specific and/or seed-preferential expression of nucleic acids wherein nucleic acid expression enhancing nucleic acids (NEENAs) are functionally linked to the promoters and/or introduced into plants. |
| US09970016B2 |
Genetic engineered bacteria and methods for promoting production of succinic acid or lactic acid
A genetic engineered bacteria without or comprising a plurality of important metabolic enzyme related genes is provided. When the by-product or waste of fruit and vegetable is used as the culture medium, a large quantity of succinic acid or lactic acid can be produced via fermentation. A method of producing succinic acid and lactic acid using the genetic engineered bacteria is also provided. |
| US09970015B2 |
Aspergillus fumigatus cellulolytic enzyme compositions and uses thereof
The present invention relates to recombinant Trichoderma host cells producing Aspergillus fumigatus cellulolytic enzyme compositions and methods of producing and using the compositions. |
| US09970014B2 |
Factor V/Va-targeting aptamer compositions and methods of using the same
Provided herein are Factor V/Factor Va-targeting aptamer compositions and antidote compositions targeting such aptamer compositions. Methods for preventing blood clots using such compositions are also provided. |
| US09970013B2 |
Rapid in situ testing for environmental contamination
The present invention provides synthetic RNA aptamers that bind RDX. In various embodiments, the synthetic RNA aptamers may include one or more aptamers selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID 1-12. The synthetic RNA aptamers that bind RDX provide an inexpensive, in situ method for testing for RDX, which may be used for both soil and water samples. |